preschool

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

(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 

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

Synonyms of preschool

Noun

• nursery

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Is there continuity between preschool, kindergarten, and elementary education? — Jose Bolaños, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

The high court’s upcoming term will also include various other major cases, including a case involving religious rights and schools over Colorado barring Catholic preschools from its universal preschool program. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

The high court’s upcoming term will also include various other major cases, including a case involving religious rights and schools over Colorado barring Catholic preschools from its universal preschool program. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

The advantages for the third-graders who attended public preschool were present in state testing scores for reading and math as well as overall grade point average. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preschool

• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool
• guayule
• lobule
• misrule
• pustule
• whirlpool
• boule

Kids Definition

preschool

1 of 2 adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

: 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