: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old
1
: relating to or produced for children especially in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
preteen fashions
2
: being younger than 13
Examples of preteen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2025
Back in April, The preteen enjoyed a fun outing at the Coachella Music Festival with Dewan and her fiancé.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 10 July 2025
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
Eli Mintz, a Yiddish-theatre star, played Uncle David with a high, wheedling voice, his hands a blur of gesticulation, and the Goldberg children were portrayed by Gentile actors, including the endearing Arlene (Fuzzy) McQuade as the preteen Rosalie, a studious girl with a sleek bob.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preteen
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Noun
In order to protect the public, these teenagers, and in some cases preteens, must be taken off the streets.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2025
Back in April, The preteen enjoyed a fun outing at the Coachella Music Festival with Dewan and her fiancé.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
The preteen skier, whom The Denver Post is not identifying, said Hedges groped and assaulted him after the boy laid down to sleep.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
Eli Mintz, a Yiddish-theatre star, played Uncle David with a high, wheedling voice, his hands a blur of gesticulation, and the Goldberg children were portrayed by Gentile actors, including the endearing Arlene (Fuzzy) McQuade as the preteen Rosalie, a studious girl with a sleek bob.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preteen
Cite this Entry
“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preteen
1 of 2 noun
pre·teen
ˈprē-ˈtēn 
: a boy or girl not yet 13 years old
preteen
2 of 2 adjective1
: relating to or produced for children especially in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
preteen fashions
2
: being younger than 13 years old
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