prefecture

noun

pre·​fec·​ture ˈprē-ˌfek-chər How to pronounce prefecture (audio)
1
: the office or term of office of a prefect
2
: the official residence of a prefect
3
: the district governed by a prefect
prefectural adjective

Examples of prefecture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Born in 1955 in the Aichi prefecture of Japan, Toriyama was interested in drawing from a young age. EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024 In three prefectures, local governments are encouraging kids to take off up to three days of their choice per year. Jules Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2024 The city of Wajima in Ishikawa prefecture on the Japan Sea coast suffered some of the worst damage from the magnitude 7.6 quake. Miho Inada, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2024 Japan lowers its tsunami warning but tells people not to go home after several earthquakes Jan. 1, 2024 The strongest shaking in Japan was in Ishikawa prefecture, along the narrow Noto Peninsula that extends off the western Japanese coast. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2024 More than 200 people were killed and thousands left homeless after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit Ishikawa prefecture on January 1. Chris Lau, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 From the serene art islands of Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea, where fascinating examples of contemporary art and architecture are on display, to the snowy peaks, hot springs, and enviable ski slopes of Hokkaido in the north, each prefecture offers something special. Roger Sands, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas two days after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area on Monday. USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024 Officials are also concerned about landslides hitting Ishikawa prefecture because rain was forecast there Tuesday night. Julia Mio Inuma, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prefecture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefecture was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near prefecture

Cite this Entry

“Prefecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefecture. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prefecture

noun
pre·​fec·​ture ˈprē-ˌfek-chər How to pronounce prefecture (audio)
1
: the office or term of office of a prefect
2
: the district governed by a prefect
prefectural adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prefecture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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