Phrase guide

elementary school

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A children’s school, typically older than toddlers and younger than adolescents. In the U.S., elementary schools cover grades 1 through 5, and the ages of the children are usually 6-11 years. At a minimum, elementary schools will teach basic reading, writing, arithmetic, and history.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, US, countable, uncountable

Qualifier: historically UK

Topics: education

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: grade school, primary school

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A primary education school for grades 1-6 (a continuation of preschool). It is succeeded by junior high school.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Philippines, countable, uncountable

Topics: education

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a school for young children; usually the first 6 or 8 grades

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: grade school, grammar school, primary school

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: school

Narrower terms: junior school, infant school

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.