preparatory school

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noun

a private or parochial secondary school, especially one boarding its students and providing a college-preparatory education.
British. a private elementary school, especially one preparing its students for public school.

Origin of preparatory school

First recorded in 1815–25

Also called prep school.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for preparatory school

Historical Examples of preparatory school

One year I passed in the preparatory-school of the missionary-house, and four years in the seminary itself.
Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ
Rev. A. Bernstein, B.D.

British Dictionary definitions for preparatory school

preparatory school

noun

(in Britain) a private school, usually single-sex and for children between the ages of 6 and 13, generally preparing pupils for public school
(in the US) a private secondary school preparing pupils for college

Often shortened to: prep school

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