prefecture Copy link • prefecture: praefectūra (office of praefectus): p. of morals, p. morum, Suet. Caes. 76: absol. = government of a town in the provinces, Cic. Att. 5, 21. Also denoting certain towns and provinces governed by a praefectus: Vell. 2, 44 (of Capua): Plin. 5, 9, 9.