: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old
1
: relating to or produced for children especially in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
preteen fashions
2
: being younger than 13
Examples of preteen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2025
This not-so-little Twihard jumped at the chance to rectify my preteen FOMO.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Tiny baby on billboard: From preemie to preteen Jordyn White was born prematurely, weighing less than three pounds.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preteen
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Noun
The 25-year-old April Harper Grey started releasing music as Underscores over a decade ago as a preteen.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2025
This not-so-little Twihard jumped at the chance to rectify my preteen FOMO.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Another instructor took advantage of the captive audience to share his political beliefs, with great volume and conviction, to the mostly preteen students.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Tiny baby on billboard: From preemie to preteen Jordyn White was born prematurely, weighing less than three pounds.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preteen
Cite this Entry
“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preteen
1 of 2 noun
pre·teen
ˈprē-ˈtēn 
: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old
preteen
2 of 2 adjective1
: relating to or produced for children especially in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
preteen fashions
2
: being younger than 13 years old
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