Meanings
plural prefects · alternative præfect · alternative praefect
- historicalAn 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
2 more examples
Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga - perhaps too much dice, you know - coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax-gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes.
1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 196It seems that in the autumn of 803 he went on leave. His uncle Po Chi-chên, had recently been moved from his post at Hsü-chou and promoted to be Prefect of Hsü-chʻang in Central Honan.
1951, Arthur Waley, The Life and Times of Po Chü-i, London: George Allen & Unwin, →OCLC, page 33 - The head of a department in France.
- The head of a prefecture in Japan.
- A commander.
- A head of a dicastery of the Roman Curia of the Roman Catholic Church.
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Reverend Sister Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A., who was serving until now as Secretary of the same Dicastery, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
2026, “Resignations and Appointments, 30.06.2026”, in Holy See Press OfficeSynonyms: provost
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA head of a dicastery of the Roman Curia of the Roman Catholic Church.
Origin
- Latinpraefectus“one placed in charge, overseer, director, prefect”
- Old Frenchprefect
- Middle Englishprefect
- Englishprefect
From Middle English prefect and prefecte, from Old French prefect (Mod. French préfet), from Latin praefectus (“one placed in charge, overseer, director, prefect”), from praeficere (“to place in charge”).
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἔπαρχος
- ἔπαρχος (éparkhos)an official of ancient Rome
Bulgarian префект
- префект (prefekt)an official of ancient Rome
Chinese Cantonese 風紀 /风纪
- 風紀 /风纪 (fung¹ gei²)a school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
Chinese Mandarin 級長 /级长
- 級長 /级长 (jízhǎng)a school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
Czech prefekt
- prefektthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
Finnish prefekti, prefekti
- prefektian official of ancient Rome
- prefektithe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- valvojaoppilasa school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
French préfet, préfet
- préfetan official of ancient Rome
- préfetthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- préfètethe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- préfeta head of dicastery
- préfètea head of dicastery
German Präfekt, Präfekt
- Präfektan official of ancient Rome
- Präfektthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- Präfektinthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- Präfekta head of dicastery
- Präfektina head of dicastery
Indonesian prefek, gubernur
- prefekthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- gubernurthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
Irish maor
- maora school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
Italian prefetto, prefetto
- prefettoan official of ancient Rome
- prefettothe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- capoclassea school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
- prepostoa commander
- capoa commander
- prefettoa head of dicastery
- prefettaa head of dicastery
Latin praefectus, praefectus
- praefectusan official of ancient Rome
- praefectusthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- praepositusa commander
Māori piriwheke, piriwheke
- piriwhekean official of ancient Rome
- piriwhekea school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
Polish prefekt, prefekt
- prefektan official of ancient Rome
- prefektthe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- dyżurnya school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
- dyżurnaa school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
- komendanta commander
- komendantkaa commander
Portuguese prefeito, prefeito
- prefeitoan official of ancient Rome
- prefeitothe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
Russian префе́кт, префе́кт
- префе́кт (prefékt)an official of ancient Rome
- префе́кт (prefékt)the head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- ста́роста (stárosta)a school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
- руководи́тель (rukovodítelʹ)a commander
Spanish prefecto, prefecto
- prefectoan official of ancient Rome
- prefectothe head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
- prefectoa head of dicastery
- prefectaa head of dicastery
Swahili kiranja
- kiranjaa school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
Welsh swyddog
- swyddoga school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
prefect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prefect
“prefect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prefect. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “prefect,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prefect.
Source: prefect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.