: 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
Emma Banks, InStyle, 21 May 2026
Jeffries remembers that, in his preteen years, his mother, Laneda, was often mugged on her way home from work.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Adam England, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026
People packed into cars with their aging relatives and their preteen children.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preteen
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Noun
Rather than become a journalist like her mom, however, the preteen wants to be an actress.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 21 May 2026
Jeffries remembers that, in his preteen years, his mother, Laneda, was often mugged on her way home from work.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Adjective
Kaylee isn't the only preteen to have made the news for selling lemonade in recent days.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026
People packed into cars with their aging relatives and their preteen children.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preteen
Cite this Entry
“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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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