precinct
/ˈpɹisɪŋkt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.61 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The general area surrounding a place, environs.
noun
A subdivision of a city under the jurisdiction of a specific group of police; the police station situated in that district.
American usage
noun
A subdivision of a city or other locality for the purposes of voting and representation in local government. In cities, precincts may be grouped into wards.
American usage
Example Sentences
Etymology
From Middle English precinct, precincte, early 15th century, in sense of “district for government purposes”, from Medieval Latin precinctum, alternative form of praecinctum (“enclosure, boundary line”), neuter singular of praecinctus, perfect passive participle of Latin praecingō (“surround, gird”), from prae (“before”) + cingō (“surround, encircle”), from which also cinch. Cognate to Italian precingere (“to encircle”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: precinct, precinctum, praecingō