noun Uncommon

prefecture

PREE-fehkt-shuh

Prefecture (noun) means a region or administrative division governed by a prefect, especially in countries like Japan or France. Example: “Osaka is one of Japan's largest prefectures by population.”

noun

A region or administrative division governed by a prefect, especially in countries like Japan or France.

"Osaka is one of Japan's largest prefectures by population."

How to use prefecture

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA government region headed by a prefect — used especially to describe Japanese administrative divisions.

Common pairings

Japanese prefecture prefecture office local prefecture

Word forms

prefectures plural

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Fill the gap

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Osaka is one of Japan's largest _____ by population.

Etymology

From Latin praefectura, formed from prefect plus -ure.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for prefecture

pure cure sure azure nature future manure secure impure injure figure allure

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Frequently asked questions

What does “prefecture” mean?

The word “prefecture” means a region or administrative division governed by a prefect, especially in countries like Japan or France. In plain terms, a government region headed by a prefect — used especially to describe Japanese administrative divisions.

How do you pronounce “prefecture”?

“Prefecture” is pronounced PREE-fehkt-shuh (/ˈpɹiˌfɛkt͡ʃəɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “prefecture” in a sentence?

Here is “prefecture” used in a sentence: “Osaka is one of Japan's largest prefectures by population.”

What part of speech is “prefecture”?

“Prefecture” is a noun.

Where does the word “prefecture” come from?

The word “prefecture” comes from Latin. From Latin praefectura, formed from prefect plus -ure.

Is “prefecture” a common word?

“Prefecture” is an uncommon word in modern English.