noun 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
noun The head of a department in France.
noun The head of a county in Albania or Romania.
noun The head of a prefecture in Japan.
noun A school pupil in a position of power over other pupils.
noun A commander.
noun A head of a dicastery of the Roman Curia of the Roman Catholic Church.