preschool

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül How to pronounce preschool (audio)
(ˌ)prē-ˈskül
: of, relating to, or constituting the period in a child's life that ordinarily precedes attendance at elementary school

preschool

2 of 2

noun

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül How to pronounce preschool (audio)
: a school for children usually younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun children excited about starting preschool
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Uh… thanks to our parents, our agents, our publicists, our preschool teachers, our managers, The Television Academy, our assistants, and Apple? Shania Russell, EW.com, 15 July 2025 The Trump administration recently moved to block undocumented kids, families from enrolling in Head Start, the federal free preschool program for low-income families. Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
For around 30 years, Head Start, a federal program that provides free preschool for children in low-income families, among other services, was exempt from a 1998 interpretation of a law that prohibits some immigrants from accessing public benefits. Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 15 July 2025 The New Albany tornado snapped power lines and damaged trees in a cemetery and outside of a preschool just before midnight. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for preschool

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preschool was in 1914

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Cite this Entry

“Preschool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preschool. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

preschool

1 of 2 adjective
pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül How to pronounce preschool (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the period in a child's life to the age of five or six that ordinarily precedes attendance at school

preschool

2 of 2 noun
: a school for children usually younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school

More from Merriam-Webster on preschool

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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