kindergartner

noun

kin·​der·​gart·​ner ˈkin-dər-ˌgärt-nər How to pronounce kindergartner (audio)
ˈkin-də-, 
-ˌgärd-
variants or less commonly kindergartener
ˈkin-dər-ˌgär-tə-nər How to pronounce kindergartner (audio)
ˈkin-də-, 
-də- How to pronounce kindergartner (audio)
Synonyms of kindergartnernext
1
: a child attending or of an age to attend kindergarten
2
: a teacher at a kindergarten

Examples of kindergartner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
German women who had trained as kindergartners and then immigrated to the US helped spread the sand around elsewhere in the US. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 13 July 2026 My new kindergartner especially is feeling all the big feels about school. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 6 July 2026 Across all Tarrant County schools, almost 93% of kindergartners were vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine in the 2025-26 school year, down from almost 94% the year before. — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026 In the Compton Unified School District, for example, educators show kindergartners a photo of 10 cows and ask students to count them. — Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for kindergartner

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kindergartner was in 1868

Rhymes for kindergartner

See All Rhymes for kindergartner

Browse Nearby Words

kindergarten
kindergartner
Kinderhook
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kindergartner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kindergartner. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

kindergartner

noun
kin·​der·​gart·​ner ˈkin-der-ˌgärt-nər How to pronounce kindergartner (audio)
-ˌgärd-
: a kindergarten pupil

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