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Synonyms

high school

American  

noun

  • high schools
    plural
  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

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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.

See Examples For:

France's high school students on Monday begin a new stage of their campaign for improved conditions, hoping to maintain the momentum with a fresh wave of demonstrations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

Olivia has an online maths tutor, who was previously head of maths at her high school in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and had also taught Tom at the same school.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

After dropping out of high school at 14, he worked on the local railroad and in his father’s wholesale grocery before co-founding a chapter of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

“I’ve had lots of college coaches and pro players and high school coaches that watch this show that love it,” Manning said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

She’s a senior in high school and thinks that makes her important.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

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