prekindergarten

noun

pre·​kin·​der·​gar·​ten (ˈ)prē-ˈkin-dər-ˌgär-tᵊn How to pronounce prekindergarten (audio)
-ˈkin-də-,
-dᵊn
often attributive
1
2
: a class or program preceding kindergarten for children usually from three to four years old

Examples of prekindergarten in a Sentence

a single father with two children in prekindergarten
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The state board decided Bronson’s case about a week before Wendy Novak, another school system parent, filed an appeal July 30 with the state on the school board’s decision to reject two books about different kinds of families from the prekindergarten and kindergarten curriculum. Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2024 In 2022, the Hawaii legislature approved $200 million in spending for new prekindergarten classrooms, part of a broader goal championed by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to offer universal pre-K for three- and four-year-olds in the state by 2032. Scott Cohn, CNBC, 11 July 2024 The Family Life Advisory Committee recommended both books for exclusion from the prekindergarten and kindergarten curriculum in a February meeting. Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024 Many educators, Lawson included, and local officials remain supportive of the Blueprint’s sweeping goals to raise teacher salaries, offer public prekindergarten and cover tuition for students dually enrolled in college courses, among other programs. Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for prekindergarten 

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prekindergarten was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near prekindergarten

Cite this Entry

“Prekindergarten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prekindergarten. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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