: 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
Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 29 June 2024
In contrast with the members of the Seven, who’ve chosen a life in the public eye, Ryan—a sheltered, insecure preteen—is uninterested in how fame and fortune can transform his life.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Ew Staff, EW.com, 1 July 2024
The preteen protagonist Lincoln’s (voiced by Bentley Griffin) fascination with another character’s past as a spy leads to decisions that put the family in danger.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for preteen 
Noun
The second photo is a throwback of when Ricki was a preteen.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 29 June 2024
In contrast with the members of the Seven, who’ve chosen a life in the public eye, Ryan—a sheltered, insecure preteen—is uninterested in how fame and fortune can transform his life.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Adjective
Sadly, fellow made-for-TV movie Life-Size (2000) is technically not a DCOM and thus is not eligible for this list — but thankfully Lindsay Lohan's other preteen masterpiece, Get a Clue, is.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 1 July 2024
The preteen protagonist Lincoln’s (voiced by Bentley Griffin) fascination with another character’s past as a spy leads to decisions that put the family in danger.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for preteen
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Cite this Entry
“Preteen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preteen. Accessed 15 Jul. 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
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