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Definition of kindergartner

kindergartner

/ˈkɪndərˌɡɑːrtnər/
kin · der · gart · ner
Plural:kindergartners
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kindergartner Lexical Profile

kindergartner Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A young child who attends kindergarten.

Example

"The energetic kindergartner proudly showed her parents the finger painting she had made at school."

2

North American A teacher who instructs children in a kindergarten (now less common).

Example

"In the late nineteenth century, she trained as a kindergartner under the educational methods of Friedrich Fröbel."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kindergartner

Word Nuance & Usage

Both "kindergartner" and "kindergartener" are widely accepted in American English, though "kindergartner" (without the middle "e") is preferred by most major dictionaries and reflects the German spelling "Kindergärtner".

• Nearby Words

kind
kindergarten
kindergartener
kindergartner
kindhearted
kindheartedly
kindheartedness

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century from "kindergarten" (borrowed from German "Kindergarten", literally "children's garden", coined by educator Friedrich Fröbel) plus the English agent suffix "-er", or directly adapted from German "Kindergärtner".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kindergartner. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kindergartner
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