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

Children need those shots in order to attend daycare, preschool, and public, private and charter schools. —Michelle Marchante september 8, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025

Child care and preschool facilities also have vaccine requirements, starting when a child is 2-3 months old. —Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Noun

As of the end of June, around 55,800 children were relying on either the CCDF or Indiana’s On My Way Pre-K vouchers, which help low-income families pay for preschool for 4-year-olds. —Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 4 Sep. 2025

For childcare facilities and preschools, diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP); IPV (polio); measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); varicella; Hib; pneumococcal conjugate; and hepatitis B shots are required. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 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