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

The programs are beginning with kindergarten students in the current 2026-27 school year and will add one grade each year. — Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026

Under the plan, students from both schools would be reassigned to Glades Middle School, which would be converted into a kindergarten through eighth grade campus. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

In Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra province, schools from kindergarten to junior high were ordered to start conducting classes online Wednesday under an emergency measure. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

The school, which offers transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, enrolled 421 students last year, and 54 experienced homelessness. — Francesca Pinney, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 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"