: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old
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
Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 30 Mar. 2025
At one point, the preteen smiles widely when he’s caught with his mom on the Jumbotron.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025
Trachtenberg was best known in her younger years for her breakout as the titular preteen lead in the 1996 movie adaptation of Louise Fitzhugh's children's novel Harriet the Spy as well as stints on the Nickelodeon sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete and the soap opera All My Children.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preteen
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Noun
Ninja 10-Quart Air Fryer with Thermometer $250 $200 at Amazon
As a larger family with teens and preteens who are constantly in and out with sports and other activities, an air fryer is, hands down, my single most time-saving kitchen tool.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 30 Mar. 2025
At one point, the preteen smiles widely when he’s caught with his mom on the Jumbotron.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
An older woman describes her video of her four-year-old and preteen daughters playing in the street.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025
Trachtenberg was best known in her younger years for her breakout as the titular preteen lead in the 1996 movie adaptation of Louise Fitzhugh's children's novel Harriet the Spy as well as stints on the Nickelodeon sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete and the soap opera All My Children.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preteen
Cite this Entry
“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preteen
1 of 2 noun
pre·teen
ˈprē-ˈtēn 
: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old
preteen
2 of 2 adjective1
: 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
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