prefect

American  

[pree-fekt] / ˈpri fɛkt /

Or praefect

noun

1. a person appointed to any of various positions of command, authority, or superintendence, as a chief magistrate in ancient Rome or the chief administrative official of a department of France or Italy.

2. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. the dean of a Jesuit school or college.

   2. a cardinal in charge of a congregation in the Curia Romana.

3. Chiefly British. a praepostor.

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prefect British  

/ ˌpriːfɛkˈtɔːrɪəl, ˈpriːfɛkt /

noun

1. (in France, Italy, etc) the chief administrative officer in a department

2. (in France, etc) the head of a police force

3. a schoolchild appointed to a position of limited power over his fellows

4. (in ancient Rome) any of several magistrates or military commanders

5. Also called: prefect apostolic.  RC Church an official having jurisdiction over a missionary district that has no ordinary

6. RC Church one of two senior masters in a Jesuit school or college (the prefect of studies and the prefect of discipline or first prefect )

7. RC Church a cardinal in charge of a congregation of the Curia

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Other Word Forms

• prefectorial adjective
• subprefect noun
• underprefect noun

Etymology

Origin of prefect

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin praefectus “overseer, director” (noun use of past participle of praeficere “to make prior,” i.e., “put in charge”), equivalent to prae- “before, prior to” ( see pre-) + -fectus (combining form of factus, past participle of facere “to make, do” ( see do ¹); see fact

Explanation

A prefect is a chief officer or magistrate, originally in ancient Rome. Like a mayor or governor, a prefect is someone powerful: a chief officer or chief magistrate. In ancient Rome, a prefect was not only in charge of a city or province but of the military too, just as the United States President is the military commander-in-chief too. The term prefect is a little old-fashioned, but there are still prefects around today.

Example Sentences

The two men, who were broadcasting live videos from the French coast, were arrested near the northern town of Calais on Sunday evening, said Francois-Xavier Lauch, prefect of Pas-de-Calais.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

At the orphanage, Sánchez was especially fond of the prefect, Francisco Fimbres.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

But in Douala, prior to the reported clashes, an AFP journalist observed several dozen people gathered near the airport, defying the ban on demonstrations ordered by the department's prefect.

From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025

Francois-Xavier Bieuville, the island's prefect, told local media the death toll could rise significantly once the damage is fully assessed.

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2024

But to himself he said, passing by, “It would not surprise me at all if the elder one should become a prefect with all this learning!”

From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck