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

Timberline Elementary School emailed parents on Wednesday to inform them of the death of a kindergarten student. —Olivia Young, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

Children should be able to enter kindergarten ready to thrive instead of trying to catch up. —Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026

In the alternate years, the department recognizes elementary schools and kindergarten through eighth grade schools. —Lauren Chapman, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026

According to Article 15 in the new law, Mandarin Chinese is mandated to be taught to all children before kindergarten and throughout the rest of compulsory education up to the end of high school. —ABC News, 11 Mar. 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
• quartan
• 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"