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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishA government region headed by a prefect — used especially to describe Japanese administrative divisions.
Common pairings
Japanese prefecture
prefecture office
local prefecture
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Word forms
- Plural
- prefectures
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Osaka is one of Japan's largest _____ by population.
Etymology
From Latin praefectura, formed from prefect plus -ure.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for prefecture
See all rhymes for prefecture →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.
