preschool

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül How to pronounce preschool (audio)
(ˌ)prē-ˈskül
Synonyms of preschoolnext
: 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 How to pronounce preschool (audio)
: a school for children usually younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school

Synonyms of preschool

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Noun

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Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun children excited about starting preschool
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.
Adjective
Designed for preschool players and families, the game allows users to explore the neighborhood through educational experiences. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 The library, created in 1995 in honor of Parton’s illiterate father, sends free books to preschool-age children every month. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
And earlier this year, the nation’s second largest school district, Los Angeles Unified, banned in-school screen use for students in preschool through first grade and curbed screen time for older students. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 The district is receiving $15,058 in federal funding and another $124,660 from the Tennessee special education preschool grant, which together cover about 22% of Lakeland’s total costs. — Melissa Brown, Chalkbeat, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preschool

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preschool was in 1914

Rhymes for preschool

See All Rhymes for preschool

Browse Nearby Words

preschedule
preschool
preschooler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preschool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preschool. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

preschool

1 of 2 adjective
pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül How to pronounce preschool (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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