precincts

UK: /ˈpriːsɪŋkts/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

precincts / ˈpriːsɪŋkts/ noun:plural

1. the surrounding region or area

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pre•cinct /ˈprisɪŋkt/   n. [countable]

1. Government a district, as of a city, marked out for election purposes or for police protection.
2. Government Also called ˈpre•cinct ˌhouse. the police station in such a district:
   The police returned to the precinct.
3. precincts, [plural] the regions surrounding a place;
   surroundings;
   environs.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pre•cinct  (prē′singkt), n. 

1. Government a district, as of a city, marked out for governmental or administrative purposes, or for police protection.
2. Government Also called pre′cinct house′. the police station in such a district.
3. Government Also called election district. one of a fixed number of districts, each containing one polling place, into which a city, town, etc., is divided for voting purposes.
4. a space or place of definite or understood limits.
5. Often, precincts. an enclosing boundary or limit.
6. precincts, the parts or regions immediately surrounding a place;
   environs:
   the precincts of a town.
7. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] the ground immediately surrounding a church, temple, or the like.
8. a walled or otherwise bounded or limited space within which a building or place is situated.

• Medieval Latin praecinctum, noun, nominal use of neuter of Latin praecinctus, past participle of praecingere to gird about, surround, equivalent. to prae- pre- + cing- (stem of cingere to surround; compare cinch¹) + -tus past participle suffix
• Middle English 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 1. ward.
• 4. territory.
• 8. compound.