kindergarten

American  

[kin-der-gahr-tn, -dn] / ˈkɪn dərˌgɑr tn, -dn /

noun

1. a school or class for young children between the ages of four and six years.

---

kindergarten British  

/ ˈkɪndəˌɡɑːtən /

noun

1. Often shortened to (in Australia and New Zealand): kinder.   kindy.   kindie.  a class or small school for young children, usually between the ages of four and six to prepare them for primary education

---

Other Word Forms

• kindergartener noun
• prekindergarten noun

Etymology

Origin of kindergarten

1850–55; < German: literally, children's garden, equivalent to Kinder children ( kind ² ) + Garten garden

Example Sentences

For now, analysts expect smaller efforts, like free kindergarten and the subsidies Beijing has rolled out for births.

From Barron's

For now, analysts expect smaller efforts, like free kindergarten and the subsidies Beijing has rolled out for births.

From Barron's

For now, analysts expect smaller efforts, like free kindergarten and the subsidies Beijing has rolled out for births.

From Barron's

County’s local preschools are closing in areas where transitional kindergarten is thriving, disrupting an already fraught child-care system.

From Los Angeles Times

The kindergarten through 12th-grade school set up a venture-style fund for select students to invest primarily in startups founded by alumni.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• nursery school