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 of preschool

Noun

• nursery

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

More than 100,000 children were waiting for scholarships to cover the cost of preschool tuition in November of 2025. —Jess Huff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026

The Callier Center for Communication Disorders also serves preschool students in the Dallas Independent School District who are deaf or hard of hearing through its child development program, serving children starting at 3 years old. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026

Noun

On the table is trading his Mercedes S-class for a hybrid or electric car and enrolling his son in a preschool closer to home to avoid that additional 10-mile drive. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

The program offers free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. —Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preschool

• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool
• guayule
• lobule
• misrule
• pustule
• whirlpool
• boule

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