kindergartner

American  

[kin-der-gahrt-ner, -gahrd-] / ˈkɪn dərˌgɑrt nər, -ˌgɑrd- /

Or kindergartener

noun

1. a child who attends a kindergarten.

2. a kindergarten teacher.

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Etymology

Origin of kindergartner

From the German word Kindergärtner, dating back to 1870–75. See kindergarten, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Shiffrin’s never been shy about acknowledging performance anxiety—this is a champ who still shows up to races with the butterflies of a kindergartner on the first day of school.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

“That’s Mr. Darly,” the kindergartner replied, naming the security escort who’s been a presence, looking out for the Democratic congressman, his wife and their three small children, for roughly her entire life.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2025

The first reporter sounded as panicked as possible and the government officials sounded like school teachers trying to calm down a kindergartner after they’ve soiled themselves in class.

From Salon • Dec. 16, 2024

In her 2012 autobiography, Can’t Is Not an Option, Haley tells the story of how, as a kindergartner in her rural South Carolina elementary school, she was cast as Pocahontas in the Thanksgiving play.

From Slate • Jan. 9, 2024

Teddy, a kindergartner back then, sat in my bedroom, pulling the Calvin and Hobbes books down from the shelves and pretending to read them.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman