elementary school
Americannoun
noun
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a former name for primary school
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Also called (in the US): grade school. grammar school. a state school in which instruction is given for the first six to eight years of a child's education
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of elementary school
First recorded in 1835–45
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.
Elementary school children take diagnostic tests for phonics and spelling at the start of camp and again toward the end.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
“Alycia is actually my coach. A few years ago I was on the verge of quitting because of the stress management,” said Principal Vern Taylor who works at Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary school.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2024
Queen Anne Elementary school is only 43% filled.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2023
“Counterpoint: Elementary school is not supposed to be like World War II.”
From New York Times • Mar. 29, 2023
Elementary school goes through sixth grade here, so this is our first year in middle school, and even though we’re already halfway through the school year, I still haven’t figured out the point of homeroom.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
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.
