preteen

1 of 2

noun

pre·​teen ˈprē-ˈtēn How to pronounce preteen (audio)
-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
North West Joins Cast of Disney's The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl Live Concert Event The preteen wore a light yellow furry hood and zipped sweater with matching shorts and furry boots while appearing as Young Simba. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 25 May 2024 Dunn's conviction and life sentence without parole hinged on the testimonies of two witnesses — a preteen and a young teenager — who have since admitted to lying during the trial. CBS News, 21 May 2024
Adjective
This introduction, based on her budding passion for fashion in her preteen years, was a pivotal moment that ultimately changed her life. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 24 May 2024 But in 2014, two preteen girls stabbed their friend and left her for dead as a real offering to the fictional being. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for preteen 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preteen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1938, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of preteen was in 1929

Dictionary Entries Near preteen

Cite this Entry

“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

preteen

1 of 2 noun
pre·​teen ˈprē-ˈtēn How to pronounce preteen (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on preteen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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