Prefect meaning

prē'fĕkt'
A school pupil in a position of power over other pupils.
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A high administrative official or chief officer, as:
  • Any of several high military or civil officials in ancient Rome.
  • The chief of police of Paris, France.
  • A chief administrative official of a department of France.
  • The administrator in charge of discipline at a Jesuit school.
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A student monitor or officer, especially in a private school.
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In ancient Rome, any of various high-ranking officials or chief magistrates in charge of governmental or military departments.
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In modern times, any of various administrative officials.
  • The head of a department of France.
  • The chief of the Paris police.
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In some private schools, esp. in England, an older student with disciplinary authority.
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An official of Ancient Rome who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.

The prefect of the aqueducts; the prefect of a camp, of a fleet, of the city guard, or of provisions; the pretorian prefect, who was commander of the troops guarding the emperor's person.

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The head of a department in France.
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Origin of prefect

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin praefectus from past participle of praeficere to place at the head of prae- pre- facere to make dhē- in Indo-European roots
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Latin praefectus (“overseer, director, prefect"). Literally 'one having been put in charge'.
    From Wiktionary

Prefect Sentence Examples

  • Alengon is the seat of a prefect and a court of assizes.

  • It was subdivided into six provinces, which were placed under the authority of the praetorian prefect of Africa.

  • In such cases the prefect must approve them, and in some cases the sanction of the general council or even ratification by the president is necessary.

  • They might be consulted by the prefect or sub-prefect; but they had no hold over him.

  • There Julius Caesar dallied with Cleopatra in 47 B.C. and was mobbed by the rabble; there his example was followed by Antony, for whose favour the city paid dear to Octavian, who placed over it a prefect from the imperial household.

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Words near prefect in the Dictionary