noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
prē'sĭngkt
/ˈpɹisɪŋkt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P R IY1 S IH2 NG K T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:P R IY1 S IH2 NG K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An enclosed space having defined limits, normally marked by walls.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: in-plural
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The general area surrounding a place, environs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: in-plural
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A pedestrianized and uncovered shopping area.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A subdivision of a city under the jurisdiction of a specific group of police; the police station situated in that district.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
Topics: government, law-enforcement
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A district over which someone or some body of people has control in general; province, sphere of control.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A surrounding boundary or limit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: city district
Narrower terms: police precinct, voting precinct, election district
History
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”).
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
оградено място
(ogradeno mjasto)
— enclosed space
Czech:
prostory
— enclosed space
Dutch:
omsloten ruimte
— enclosed space
French:
enceinte
— enclosed space
Georgian:
ტერიტორია
— enclosed space
German:
umschlossener Bezirk
— enclosed space
Ancient Greek:
τέμενος
(témenos)
— enclosed space
Ancient Greek:
περίβολος
(períbolos)
— enclosed space
Hindi:
परिसर
(parisar)
— enclosed space
Hindi:
प्रांगण
(prāṅgaṇ)
— enclosed space
Hungarian:
övezet
— enclosed space
Hungarian:
körzet
— enclosed space
Hungarian:
kerület
— enclosed space
Hungarian:
terület
— enclosed space
Hungarian:
negyed
— enclosed space
Romanian:
incintă
— enclosed space
Russian:
террито́рия
(territórija)
— enclosed space
Spanish:
recinto
— enclosed space
Dutch:
winkelcentrum
— uncovered shopping area
Finnish:
jalankulkualue
— uncovered shopping area
Georgian:
სავაჭრო ზონა
(savač̣ro zona)
— uncovered shopping area
German:
Einkaufsfußgängerzone
— uncovered shopping area
German:
Fußgängereinkaufszone
— uncovered shopping area
German:
Fußgängerzone
— uncovered shopping area
Hungarian:
bevásárlónegyed
— uncovered shopping area
Russian:
торго́вая зо́на
(torgóvaja zóna)
— uncovered shopping area
Bulgarian:
полицейски участък
(policejski učastǎk)
— police district
Czech:
okrsek
— police district
Dutch:
districtpolitiebureau
— police district
Dutch:
politiedistrict
— police district
Finnish:
piiri
— police district
Finnish:
poliisipiiri
— police district
French:
district
— police district
French:
arrondissement de commune
— police district
French:
commissariat
— police district
Georgian:
რაიონი
(raioni)
— police district
Georgian:
ოლქი
(olki)
— police district
German:
Polizeirevier
— police district
Hungarian:
rendőrőrs
— police district
Icelandic:
lögregluumdæmi
— police district
Russian:
райо́н
(rajón)
— police district
Russian:
о́круг
(ókrug)
— police district
Spanish:
distrito policial/policíaco/policiaco
— police district
Swedish:
polisstation
— police district
Armenian:
ընտրատեղամաս
(əntrateġamas)
— voting district
Bulgarian:
избирателен участък
(izbiratelen učastǎk)
— voting district
Czech:
okrsek
— voting district
Dutch:
kiesgrensgebied
— voting district
Dutch:
kiesdistrict
— voting district
Finnish:
vaalialue
— voting district
Finnish:
vaalipiiri
— voting district
French:
bureau
— voting district
French:
canton
— voting district
Georgian:
საარჩევნო უბანი
(saarčevno ubani)
— voting district
German:
Wahlbezirk
— voting district
Hungarian:
választókerület
— voting district
Hungarian:
választókörzet
— voting district
Persian:
حوزه
(hovze)
— voting district
Russian:
избира́тельный уча́сток
(izbirátelʹnyj učástok)
— voting district
Russian:
избира́тельный о́круг
(izbirátelʹnyj ókrug)
— voting district
Spanish:
distrito de votación
— voting district
Ukrainian:
виборча дільниця
(vyborča dilʹnycja)
— voting district
Ukrainian:
виборчий округ
(vyborčyj okruh)
— voting district
