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

Preschool operations often depend on collecting tuition from more 4-year-olds to subsidize losses from fewer but costlier and resource-needy toddlers and babies.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

Until now, Rodarte has relied on a scholarship from the local La Casita Preschool for her five-year-old granddaughter, Nova, to attend three days a week.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Anya Eckert, director of La Casita Preschool in Santa Fe, is worried the state’s reimbursement rates might not match what her business charges for part-time care, which is in high demand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Instead, Boone has come to the outdoor classroom at The Ross Preschool, a half-hour drive from the park.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

Preschool in three cultures—Japan, China, and the United States.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• day-care center
• kindergarten