prefecture

American  

[pree-fek-cher] / ˈpri fɛk tʃər /

noun

1. the office, jurisdiction, territory, or official residence of a prefect.

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prefecture British  

/ ˈpriːfɛkˌtjʊə /

noun

1. the office, position, or area of authority of a prefect

2. the official residence of a prefect in France, Italy, etc

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Other Word Forms

• prefectural adjective
• subprefecture noun

Etymology

Origin of prefecture

From the Latin word praefectūra, dating back to 1570–80. See prefect, -ure

Example Sentences

To find out, the researchers traveled to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano prefecture.

From Science Daily • Mar. 3, 2026

Brooke Day was using a chairlift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, Nagano prefecture, when part of her backpack got tangled in the lift, leaving her suspended in midair.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

But public opinion in the area around the plant is deeply divided: Around 60 percent of residents oppose the restart, while 37 percent support it, according to a survey conducted by Niigata prefecture in September.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

The 22-year-old woman had been using a chairlift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Otari, Nagano prefecture, when part of her backpack became caught in the lift mechanism, leaving her suspended in midair.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

The downsides of nuclear power are obvious when you consider Fukushima prefecture.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland