prefect

noun

pre·​fect ˈprē-ˌfekt How to pronounce prefect (audio)
1
: any of various high officials or magistrates of differing functions and ranks in ancient Rome
2
: a chief officer or chief magistrate
3
: a student monitor in a usually private school

Examples of prefect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But a few major appointments await, most importantly to fill Leo’s old job as prefect of the office that vets bishop nominations. Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025 Jesus was then put on trial and later sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 He was born in 1955 in Chicago and went on to do missionary work in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s and was elected prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine and prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025 He was appointed as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops by Pope Francis in 2023. Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for prefect

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praefectus, from past participle of praeficere to place at the head of, from prae- + facere to make — more at do

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefect was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prefect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefect. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

prefect

noun
pre·​fect ˈprē-ˌfekt How to pronounce prefect (audio)
1
: a high official or judge (as of ancient Rome or France)
2
: a student assistant in some schools

More from Merriam-Webster on prefect

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!