: 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
Kalia Richardson,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
The structural liberties taken with Morpurgo’s text by Clert and co-writer Helen Blakeman pay off cinematically, though children much younger than the book’s preteen target audience may be left a little adrift.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
1 July 2026
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 June 2026
When North was first spotted with a dermal piercing on her hand in September 2025, fans were quick to call out Kardashian for allowing her preteen daughter to undergo body modifications.
—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for preteen
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.
Noun
Schwam also watched the show as a preteen, often turning it on during slumber parties or in hotel rooms when her mom stepped out.
—
Kalia Richardson,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
The structural liberties taken with Morpurgo’s text by Clert and co-writer Helen Blakeman pay off cinematically, though children much younger than the book’s preteen target audience may be left a little adrift.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
1 July 2026
Adjective
Magnetic and unforgettable, preteen Baquero’s performance anchored a major awards-season breakthrough for del Toro.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 June 2026
When North was first spotted with a dermal piercing on her hand in September 2025, fans were quick to call out Kardashian for allowing her preteen daughter to undergo body modifications.
—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for preteen
Cite this Entry
“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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
