preschool

American  

[pree-skool, pree-skool] / ˈpriˈskul, ˈpriˌskul /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or intended for a child between infancy and school age.

   new methods of preschool education.

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noun

1. a school or nursery for preschool children.

preschool British  

/ priːˈskuːl /

adjective

1. 1. (of a child) under the age at which compulsory education begins

   2. (of services) for or relating to preschool children

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Etymology

Origin of preschool

First recorded in 1920–25; pre- + school ¹

Explanation

A preschool is a school for kids too young for kindergarten. In preschool, your teacher will still help you tie your shoes and stick your straw into your juice box. You can use the word preschool for the actual building where three year olds attend school, or for the program there. It's also an adjective for talking about preschool teachers, preschool students, or preschool funding in your town. Preschool has been used since the late 1800s, and it's also commonly called pre-K or nursery school.

Example Sentences

An experiment involving preschool children is unfolding in South Los Angeles, one that aims to solve a persistent problem in the region’s stressed day-care industry: the lack of workers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

They’re paying about $400 a month for preschool for their 3-year-old grandson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

She was found in the vehicle only after her mother showed up to pick her up from preschool, the source said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Crow, 64, bought both properties through a trust managed by her longtime financial manager—having chosen to relocate from a remote 150-acre farm to the Nashville estate when her children were getting ready to start preschool.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Polishing silver reminds me of preschool, where I did all these random chores like sorting, scrubbing, and sewing giant buttons with a blunt needle.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• day-care center
• kindergarten