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Synonyms

high school

American  

noun

  1. a school attended after elementary school or junior high school and usually consisting of grades 9 or 10 through 12.


high school British  

noun

  1. another term for grammar school

  2. a secondary school from grade 7 to grade 12

  3. a secondary school, the grades covered depending on the province

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of high school

First recorded in 1815–25

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

High school kids in Durham, North Carolina. staged walk outs in defense of their classmates and families who are living in fear.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2025

High school might be a good time to conceive of ideas, but college is where to find the network of co-founders and early employees crucial to a startup’s success.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

High school, college, med school, it’s all the same: You dress up, get there early, sweat in the sunshine, and holler like hell when the grad’s name gets called.

From Slate • May 27, 2025

High school football players who sustained concussions displayed slowed aperiodic activity.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2024

High school was not like the Brackebuschs’ home at all.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau