preteen

1 of 2

noun

pre·​teen ˈprē-ˈtēn How to pronounce preteen (audio)
-ˌtēn
: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old

preteen

2 of 2

adjective

1
: relating to or produced for children especially in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
preteen fashions
2
: being younger than 13

Examples of preteen in a Sentence

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.
Noun
McNicoll’s compassionate, immersive writing has wide appeal for preteen and teen readers, both those neurotypical and neurodivergent. Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025 Hailey Brown, 26, began watching YouTube as a preteen on her iPod Touch in Springfield, Missouri. Greta Cross, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
One thing Dewan wasn’t expecting about the preteen years? Anna Halkidis, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025 Unlike the High School Musical franchise—whose third film received a theatrical release—few modern preteen narratives reach that level of success. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preteen

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1938, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of preteen was in 1929

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

preteen

1 of 2 noun
pre·​teen ˈprē-ˈtēn How to pronounce preteen (audio)
: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old

preteen

2 of 2 adjective
1
: relating to or produced for children especially in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
preteen fashions
2
: being younger than 13 years old

More from Merriam-Webster on preteen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!