kindergarten

kindergarten — noun

1. In the US education system, the first formal year of schooling that children att

1.nounA2
Definition

In the US education system, the first formal year of schooling that children attend before first grade, usually starting around age five.

Example

Every morning, Yasmin waits at the bus stop for the kindergarten bus to arrive.

On her first day of kindergarten, Dahlia held her mother's hand very tightly.

no article before 'kindergarten' for the school year

Common collocations
  • start kindergarten
  • finish kindergarten
  • kindergarten class
  • kindergarten teacher

Usage Note

In US English, 'kindergarten' is usually used without an article when referring to the school year itself (e.g., 'My son started kindergarten this fall'). When referring to a particular institution, it is countable ('They chose a kindergarten close to home').

Common Mistakes

My daughter starts the kindergarten next week.
My daughter starts kindergarten next week.
Do not add 'the' before 'kindergarten' when talking about the school year in general.

2. A school for very young children, usually between two and five years old, where

2.nounA2
Definition

A school for very young children, usually between two and five years old, where they learn through play, creative activities, and social interaction rather than formal lessons.

Example

The kindergarten next to the park takes children from age two to five.

sense 2: accepts toddlers from age 2

At Wei's kindergarten, the children spend most of the morning playing outdoors.

Common collocations
  • go to kindergarten
  • send [a child] to kindergarten
  • kindergarten teacher
  • start kindergarten
Synonyms
  • preschool

    The standard US term for the same concept; 'preschool' is preferred in American English for this sense.

  • nursery school

    Common in British English; slightly more formal and often refers to school-based rather than home-based care.

  • playgroup

    Less formal, often parent-run and part-time; usually for younger children (ages 2–4).

Usage Note

This sense is more common in British English. In US English, 'preschool' or 'nursery school' is typically used for this age group instead. Distinguish from sense 1, where 'kindergarten' refers specifically to the year before first grade at age five.

Word family

  • kindergartner
    nounB1
  • kindergartener
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

In the sense of an early-childhood education setting, 'preschool' is the dominant US term and is broader, covering any centre-based programme before formal school. 'Nursery school' is more common in British English and tends to suggest a part-day, school-like setting with a stronger educational focus. 'Playgroup' refers to a less formal, often parent-run session where children socialise through free play; it usually meets for shorter hours and accepts younger children. For example: 'Devika attends preschool five mornings a week' (US), 'Amelia goes to nursery school three afternoons a week' (UK), and 'On Tuesday mornings the local playgroup meets in the church hall' (informal, parent-led).

preschool ↗nursery schoolplaygroup

Common collocations

Nouns

  • kindergarten teacher
  • kindergarten class
  • kindergarten student
  • kindergarten year

Phrases

  • go to kindergarten
  • start kindergarten
  • attend kindergarten
  • finish kindergarten
  • enroll in kindergarten

Prepositions

  • in kindergarten
  • at kindergarten
  • to kindergarten

Etymology

GermanEnglish

The word comes from German 'Kindergarten', which literally means 'children's garden'. It was created by the German educator Friedrich Fröbel in 1840 for his new type of early childhood school. English borrowed the word directly in the 1850s, first in the United States.