precinct
/ˈpɹisɪŋkt/noun
precinct is spelled P-R-E-C-I-N-C-T: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 4.1 times per million words in written English, the 12,764th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, precinct means “An enclosed space having defined limits, normally marked by walls” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of precinct is precincts.
How many letters and syllables are in precinct?
| Letters | 8: P-R-E-C-I-N-C-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 4.1 times per million words; the 12,764th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is precinct?
Precinct appears 4.1 times per million words in written English, the 12,764th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce precinct?
- /ˈpɹisɪŋkt/
Precinct has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vininn126-precinct.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of precinct
- precincts plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does precinct mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An enclosed space having defined limits, normally marked by walls.
- 2
The general area surrounding a place, environs.
- 3
UKA pedestrianized and uncovered shopping area.
- 4
USA subdivision of a city under the jurisdiction of a specific group of police; the police station situated in that district.
- 5
USA 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.
- 6
archaicA district over which someone or some body of people has control in general; province, sphere of control.
- 7
archaicA surrounding boundary or limit.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Precinct in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | enceinte , district, arrondissement de commune, commissariat , bureau, canton |
| German | umschlossener Bezirk , Polizeirevier , Wahlbezirk , Einkaufsfußgängerzone, Fußgängereinkaufszone, Fußgängerzone |
| Spanish | recinto , distrito policial/policíaco/policiaco , distrito de votación |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does precinct come from?
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.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).