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

• crèche
• day nursery
• nursery
• nursery school
• pre-K
• prekindergarten

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

If implemented correctly, a good preschool program can have a lasting effect on later school and life performance, including higher lifetime earnings and improved health. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 5 June 2024

Report dings Arizona on preschool quality, too The report also examined preschool quality by looking at state requirements for preschool programs. —Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024

Noun

California law requires preschools, which can take in children as young as 36 months, to maintain an even lower ratio of eight 4-year-olds for each adult. —Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2024

The importance of preschool has been known for decades. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 5 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

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