Standard Lemma guide

preteen

adj · noun · 4 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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  • CMU ARPABET: P R IY2 T IY1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of, relating to, or designed for, or being children between the ages of approximately 10 and 12.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A child between approximately 10 and 12 years of age, at the onset of adolescence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

of or relating to or designed for children between the ages of 9 and 12

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a preteen party
  • preteen clothing

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: preadolescent

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a preadolescent boy or girl (usually between 9 and 12 years of age)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • little league is intended for the preteens

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: preteenager

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: juvenile, juvenile person

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh2- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh2i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English teen English preteen From pre- + teen.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: esiteini- — of or relating to children between the ages of approximately 10 and 12
  • Finnish: esiteini-ikäinen — of or relating to children between the ages of approximately 10 and 12
  • Italian: preadolescenziale — of or relating to children between the ages of approximately 10 and 12
  • Italian: preadolescente — of or relating to children between the ages of approximately 10 and 12
  • Finnish: esiteini — a child between approximately 10 and 12 years of age
  • Italian: preadolescente — a child between approximately 10 and 12 years of age