preteen

1 of 2

noun

pre·​teen ˈprē-ˈtēn 

-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

Noun

One dose of a different formulation of the shot, the Tdap vaccine, is also recommended for preteens between 11 and 12 and for adults every 10 years. —Randi Richardson, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2024

The in-person training program will focus mainly on preteens and teenagers but can be tailored to younger children, as well as staff and parents, officials said in a news release. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2024

Adjective

But then there are puzzlements: more unexplained goats, a freezing-cold field trip and a preteen office worker. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025

Dear Abby: After several months of weight loss, our preteen daughter was hospitalized after a trip to the ER. —Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1938, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

preteen

1 of 2 noun

pre·​teen ˈprē-ˈtēn 

: 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