kindergarten

noun

kin·​der·​gar·​ten ˈkin-dər-ˌgär-tᵊn 

ˈkin-də-, 

-dᵊn

plural kindergartens

: a school or class for children usually from five to six years old

Examples of kindergarten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Watching a friend at kindergarten reunite with his father returning from the front, Yurii began to understand that his own dad would never come home. — Constant Méheut, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Parent engagement, education level and household income are among the strongest predictors of children’s kindergarten readiness in reading and math, according to new research including Texas children. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026

Business was so slow the first month that their daughter Darsee, then in kindergarten, could sit on the floor for hours playing with beads, undisturbed. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Take a look at this kindergarten through grade 5 website to download online lessons and supplemental worksheets for reading and math. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

German, from Kinder children + Garten garden

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kindergarten

• carton
• garten
• marten
• parton
• spartan
• tartan

Kids Definition

kindergarten

noun

kin·​der·​gar·​ten ˈkin-də(r)-ˌgärt-ᵊn 

-ˌgärd-

: a school or class for very young children

Etymology

from German kindergarten "a school for very young children," from kinder "children" and garten "garden"