prefect
n. countablen. an older student in some schools who has special duties and helps keep order. They usually have some power to tell younger students what to do.
n. a senior student in certain schools, particularly in the British system, who is granted limited authority over younger pupils to assist with discipline and administrative tasks.
The head prefect leads the school assembly every Monday morning.
After three years of excellent behavior, she was appointed as a prefect to help supervise the younger students during lunch.
The school's disciplinary system relies heavily on the prefect body to manage minor infractions, allowing the teaching staff to focus on academic instruction rather than routine supervision.
From Middle English prefect and prefecte, from Old French prefect (Mod. French préfet), from Latin praefectus (“one placed in charge, overseer, director, prefect”), from praeficere (“to place in charge”).
Commonly used in the context of British or Commonwealth private and grammar schools; also used historically for certain high-ranking government officials.