: 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
Bailey Richards, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
According to court documents that the filmmakers obtained when Kelly’s divorce papers were unsealed in 2019, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated Kelly for allegedly molesting a preteen Jane Doe in 2009.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
What started as a consolation prize offered to an older preteen or young teenager who craves technology, communication, and social inclusion has evolved into a sort of gateway device.
—Emily Tate Sullivan, WIRED, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preteen 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
After the preteen appeared to secure two big trophies in the September event, both of her parents raved about her on Instagram.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
According to court documents that the filmmakers obtained when Kelly’s divorce papers were unsealed in 2019, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated Kelly for allegedly molesting a preteen Jane Doe in 2009.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
Adjective
House was created when director Nobuhiko Obayashi asked his preteen daughter what scared her.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
What started as a consolation prize offered to an older preteen or young teenager who craves technology, communication, and social inclusion has evolved into a sort of gateway device.
—Emily Tate Sullivan, WIRED, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preteen
Articles Related to preteen
Dictionary Entries Near preteen
Cite this Entry
“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share