Prefect
/ˈpɹiːfɛkt/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An official of Ancient Rome who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc. historical
"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 a chief officer or chief magistrate wordnet
- 3 The head of a department in France.
- 4 The head of a county in Albania or Romania.
- 5 The head of a prefecture in Japan.
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- 6 A school pupil in a position of power over other pupils. British
- 7 A commander.
Example
More examples"I can't believe they made Charlie a prefect!"
Etymology
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”).