preteen
Americannoun
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Also called preteenager. Also called preteener. a boy or girl under the age of 13, especially one between the ages of 9 and 12.
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preteens, the years immediately preceding one's thirteenth birthday.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of preteen
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:
The Messi 10 has become America’s preteen uniform.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
A mother who sees other women as her direct competition isn’t just creepy; she’s dangerous — and the fact that, in this case, the other women are preteen girls makes it even worse.
From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026
The Kim regime figures other nations won’t subject preteen girls to arduous training.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026
The author describes being drawn to Lansbury as a preteen, seeing in her character a woman confidently creating stories and outmaneuvering powerful men in investigations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025
I didn’t want to appear rude, but as a preteen girl, I thought, I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing anything in here.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
The suit states that "despite public knowledge of ChatGPT's use by minors, including preteens, defendants have not taken steps to prevent their use of ChatGPT."
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
The kids and preteens in the youngest generation have grown up with the ability to watch any movie on any device anytime and anywhere they desire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 22, 2025
The in-person training program will focus mainly on preteens and teenagers but can be tailored to younger children, as well as staff and parents, officials said in a news release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 23, 2024
Industries catering to preteens have crumbled as social media has become the epicenter of cultural dissemination, with tween fashion and beauty largely being folded into brands that cater to adults.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2024
By the time Dad gets home with the pizza, the two of them are screeching like preteens, and all is back to normal.
From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King
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.
