preparatory school
Americannoun
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a private or parochial secondary school, especially one boarding its students and providing a college-preparatory education.
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British. a private elementary school, especially one preparing its students for public school.
noun
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(in Britain) a private school, usually single-sex and for children between the ages of 6 and 13, generally preparing pupils for public school
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(in the US) a private secondary school preparing pupils for college
Etymology
Origin of preparatory school
First recorded in 1815–25
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.
He played soccer and went to Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School, a Catholic preparatory school in Arlington.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026
In June, the independent preparatory school, which has educated children for almost 130 years, announced it would sell the tables, which generations of children had eaten at, ahead of its closure on 31 December.
From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2025
When he boarded the car at the Metro Center station, it was packed with dozens of students, some wearing shirts and backpacks from Landon — a college preparatory school in Bethesda.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 6, 2022
The accident occurred Thursday as the Brunswick school, a college preparatory school for boys in Greenwich, played St. Luke’s School, a private co-educational school from New Canaan.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 7, 2022
“I am sure you have heard of Hackett, the preparatory school for boys,” he said.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
