"Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, substantive adjectival form of praeficere: \"put in front\", i.e., in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but which, basically, refers to the leader of an administrative area.A prefect's office, department, or area of control is called a prefecture, but in various post-Roman empire cases there is a prefect without a prefecture or vice versa."@en . . .