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noun Uncommon

precinct

PREE-sihngkt
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Precinct (noun) means a defined area or district, often one with a specific administrative or official purpose. Example: “The pedestrian precinct downtown is closed to traffic on weekends.”

noun
1
A defined area or district, often one with a specific administrative or official purpose.
"The pedestrian precinct downtown is closed to traffic on weekends."
"She voted at her local precinct just around the corner."
2
(US) A local police station, or the district it covers.
"He was taken to the 12th precinct for questioning."

How to use precinct

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA marked-off area or district — could be a shopping zone, a voting district, or a police patrol area, depending on context.

UK vs US

In the UK, a "precinct" is usually a pedestrian shopping area; in American English, it more often means a police or voting district.

Common pairings
shopping precinct police precinct voting precinct
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Word forms

Plural
precincts
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The pedestrian _____ downtown is closed to traffic on weekends.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin precinctum, \"an enclosure or boundary,\" ultimately from Latin praecingere, \"to surround or gird\" — the same root that gives us \"cinch.\"

Origin: Medieval Latin

Synonyms

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district zone sector jurisdiction

Related words

industry region stage section parts authority county district

Frequently asked questions

What does “precinct” mean?
The word “precinct” means a defined area or district, often one with a specific administrative or official purpose. In plain terms, a marked-off area or district — could be a shopping zone, a voting district, or a police patrol area, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “precinct”?
“Precinct” is pronounced PREE-sihngkt (/ˈpɹisɪŋkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “precinct” in a sentence?
Here is “precinct” used in a sentence: “The pedestrian precinct downtown is closed to traffic on weekends.”
What part of speech is “precinct”?
“Precinct” is a noun.
Where does the word “precinct” come from?
The word “precinct” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin precinctum, \"an enclosure or boundary,\" ultimately from Latin praecingere, \"to surround or gird\" — the same root that gives us \"cinch.\".
Is “precinct” a common word?
“Precinct” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “precinct” have?
“Precinct” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a defined area or district, often one with a specific administrative or official purpose.
What is the difference between a precinct and a district?
A precinct is a defined area with a specific administrative or official purpose, such as a voting precinct or a police precinct, while a district is a broader term for any defined geographic or administrative area. Precincts are often smaller subdivisions used for a particular function, like policing or elections, within a larger district.
What does "police precinct" mean in the US?
In US usage, a police precinct refers to a local police station or the specific district that station covers. Cities are typically divided into multiple precincts, each with its own station handling law enforcement for that area.
Is a voting precinct the same as a police precinct?
Both are types of precincts in the sense of being defined administrative areas, but they serve different purposes. A voting precinct is a district set up for organizing elections, while a police precinct covers law enforcement for a particular local area.

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