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

Reuniting with and trying to save her daughter, Hannah (played by Jordana Blake), who is now a preteen in-training to become a Gilead wife, remains the underlying theme of June’s fight in season six. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025

The Tdap vaccine is recommended for preteens (ages 11 to 12), and every 10 years after that. —Melissa Dahl, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Alec Baldwin is learning a thing or two from his preteen daughter. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Ride Horseback in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona One May day, saddled atop two small horses perfect for our short frames, my teenage daughter and I followed a Diné woman and her preteen son up the low, brown waters of Chinle Creek and into the deep ochre Canyon de Chelly (pronounced de-shay). —Outside Online, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1938, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for preteen

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

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