A prefecture (from the Latin word, "praefectura") is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect.
In the 21st century, the term prefecture is used for the modern first-level subdivisions of the Central African Republic, Japan, and Morocco.
[1] From 1836 until 2011, modern Greece was divided into nomoi (Greek: νομοί, singular νομός, nomos) which formed the country's main administrative units.
When used in the context of Chinese history, especially China before the Tang dynasty, the word "prefecture" is used to translate xian (縣).
This unit of administration is translated as "county" when used in a contemporary context, because of the increase of the number of "xian" and the decrease of their sizes over time in the Chinese history.
In the context of Chinese history during or after the Tang dynasty, the word "prefecture" is used to translate zhou (Wade–Giles chou (州), another ancient unit of administration in China, equivalent to the modern province.
Before the end of World War II, the word was also used for overseas areas 庁 (chō)、州 (shu) and 道 (dō, in Korea).
Until 1894 Hyeon (Korean: 현; Hanja: 縣) was the lowest level administrative division in Korea and can be translated into "Petty Prefecture" in the modern sense.
Traditionally, the term prefecture referred to a City Hall and the prefect was the equivalent of a mayor and commissioner.