prefect
noun
pre·fect ˈprē-ˌfekt 
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Archbishop Giorgio Marengo, as the apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar, ventured that the tiny size of his flock there — Catholics in that Asian country number about 1,300 — factored in the pope’s selection of him. 
Frances D'emilio, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 These recent changes, however, cannot compare with those from the most famous and dramatic period of reinvention in the city’s history: the Second Empire of Napoleon III and his prefect of Paris, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann. David A. Bell, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 The prefect left, and the talk slowed and stumbled into the night as sleep took hold. Ian Mcewan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI instead, the new pope named Cardinal Hummes to the prestigious post of prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy, in Rome. New York Times, 13 July 2022 Hummes worked for the new Pope Benedict from 2006 to 2011 as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, the Vatican office in charge of the priestly education and training. Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2022 Cardinal Hummes also worked for Pope Benedict XVI between 2006 and 2011 as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, the Vatican office that oversees the education, training, and other matters for Catholic priests. Mauricio Savarese, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2022 The desk sergeant called the police prefect, who immediately informed Interior Minister Christian Bonnet. Tom Sancton, Town & Country, 31 Mar. 2022 The tone of his letter seems to indicate that age and solitude have mellowed the once high-handed prefect. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2022 See More
Frances D'emilio, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 These recent changes, however, cannot compare with those from the most famous and dramatic period of reinvention in the city’s history: the Second Empire of Napoleon III and his prefect of Paris, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann. David A. Bell, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 The prefect left, and the talk slowed and stumbled into the night as sleep took hold. Ian Mcewan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI instead, the new pope named Cardinal Hummes to the prestigious post of prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy, in Rome. New York Times, 13 July 2022 Hummes worked for the new Pope Benedict from 2006 to 2011 as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, the Vatican office in charge of the priestly education and training. Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2022 Cardinal Hummes also worked for Pope Benedict XVI between 2006 and 2011 as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, the Vatican office that oversees the education, training, and other matters for Catholic priests. Mauricio Savarese, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2022 The desk sergeant called the police prefect, who immediately informed Interior Minister Christian Bonnet. Tom Sancton, Town & Country, 31 Mar. 2022 The tone of his letter seems to indicate that age and solitude have mellowed the once high-handed prefect. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2022 See More 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