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

Noun

• nursery

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

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

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