noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

prefect

PREE-fehkt

Prefect (noun) means a senior school student given authority over younger pupils. Example: “As a prefect, she was responsible for keeping order in the lunch hall.”

noun

A senior school student given authority over younger pupils.

"As a prefect, she was responsible for keeping order in the lunch hall."

A senior government or administrative official in certain countries, often heading a region or department.

"The French prefect oversees local administration on behalf of the national government."

How to use prefect

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone given authority over others — a school leadership role in the UK, or a regional government official elsewhere.

UK vs US

The school-prefect sense is mostly a British/Commonwealth term; American schools rarely use this title.

Common pairings

head prefect school prefect regional prefect

Word forms

prefects plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

As a _____, she was responsible for keeping order in the lunch hall.

Etymology

From Latin praefectus, \"one placed in charge,\" from praeficere, \"to put in charge of.\"

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for prefect

defect

See all rhymes for prefect →

Frequently asked questions

What does “prefect” mean?

The word “prefect” means a senior school student given authority over younger pupils. In plain terms, someone given authority over others — a school leadership role in the UK, or a regional government official elsewhere.

How do you pronounce “prefect”?

“Prefect” is pronounced PREE-fehkt (/ˈpɹiːfɛkt/ in IPA).

How do you use “prefect” in a sentence?

Here is “prefect” used in a sentence: “As a prefect, she was responsible for keeping order in the lunch hall.”

What part of speech is “prefect”?

“Prefect” is a noun.

Where does the word “prefect” come from?

The word “prefect” comes from Latin. From Latin praefectus, \"one placed in charge,\" from praeficere, \"to put in charge of.\".

Is “prefect” a common word?

“Prefect” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “prefect” have?

“Prefect” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a senior school student given authority over younger pupils.