kindergarten

noun

kin·​der·​gar·​ten ˈkin-dər-ˌgär-tᵊn How to pronounce kindergarten (audio)
ˈkin-də-, 
-dᵊn
plural kindergartens
Synonyms of kindergartennext
: a school or class for children usually from five to six years old

Examples of kindergarten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade are not allowed to use devices during the school day. — Chaewon Chung updated July 6, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026 With five school-age kids heading to kindergarten through college (plus a baby), saying this is a busy time of year for our family is an understatement. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 6 July 2026 Parents of the second- and third-place finishers raised a complaint that led the high school athletics association to analyze her school records back to kindergarten to determine the child’s gender, without consulting her parents. — Megan Gandy, The Conversation, 1 July 2026 That was followed in February by HB391, which imposes the same ban on public kindergarten through 12th grade institutions. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for kindergarten

Word History

Etymology

German, from Kinder children + Garten garden

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kindergarten was in 1851

Rhymes for kindergarten

See All Rhymes for kindergarten

Browse Nearby Words

kinderbeweijs
kindergarten
kindergartner
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kindergarten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kindergarten. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

kindergarten

noun
kin·​der·​gar·​ten ˈkin-də(r)-ˌgärt-ᵊn How to pronounce kindergarten (audio)
-ˌgärd-
: a school or class for very young children
Etymology

from German kindergarten "a school for very young children," from kinder "children" and garten "garden"

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