: 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
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
In recent years, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the expert group that shapes the agency’s national vaccine recommendations, has considered dropping its recommendation for a first dose administered at age 11 or 12, since meningococcal infections are rare among preteens.
—Jamie Ducharme, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
In Belly’s flashback, preteen Conrad is anxiously screaming at preteen Belly for wandering off under his supervision, which feels more like mean-babysitter behavior than that of a romantic hero, but mean-babysitter behavior is also my main gripe with Conrad.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2025
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Noun
Katherine is also the frazzled single mother to two kids, hopelessly dorky 13-year-old Ben (Skyler Gisondo) and Machiavellian preteen Esther (Natalie Palamides).
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
In recent years, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the expert group that shapes the agency’s national vaccine recommendations, has considered dropping its recommendation for a first dose administered at age 11 or 12, since meningococcal infections are rare among preteens.
—Jamie Ducharme, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Claire’s started as a wig shop in the 1960s before merging with an accessories retailer in 1973, and then getting into the ear-piercing business and staking its claim on preteen girls.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
In Belly’s flashback, preteen Conrad is anxiously screaming at preteen Belly for wandering off under his supervision, which feels more like mean-babysitter behavior than that of a romantic hero, but mean-babysitter behavior is also my main gripe with Conrad.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 20 Aug. 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 22 Sep. 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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