preteenager

2.1

A child aged about nine to twelve who is not yet a teenager

noun
/ˌpriːˈtiːneɪdʒər/

: preadolescente

The movie is appropriate for preteenagers and older children.

Examples

My brother is a preteenager now.
Many preteenagers start to develop new hobbies as they approach adolescence.
Several preteenagers attended the summer science camp this year.
The preteenager loves playing video games.
The preteenager enjoyed playing video games with friends after school.
Many preteenagers are starting to take an interest in sports and activities outside of school.
As a preteenager, he was excited about the upcoming school dance.

Synonyms

tween

vspreteenager

12 2.9

A child between childhood and the teenage years, usually aged 9 to 12

is defined by the specific ages about nine to twelve rather than stage

preteen

vspreteenager

7 2.7

A child aged nine to twelve who is not yet a teenager

is the same age definition but differs only in wording or form

preadolescent

vspreteenager

1 4.3

A child aged nine to twelve who is not yet a teenager

focuses on the specific ages around nine to twelve rather than that relation

subteen

vspreteenager

Neologism

4.8

A child younger than thirteen who is about to become a teenager

is narrower, focusing on roughly ages nine to twelve rather than all under thirteen

How Old

adult

∞ 1.0

teen

453 1.0

preteenager

2.1

child

∞ 1.0

toddler

171 1.0

Surface Forms

preteenager singular

preteenagers plural

Morphology

preteenager = teenager (transparent) = pre + teen + age + er

The meaning is straightforwardly 'a person before becoming a teenager', which is easy to infer from 'pre-' and 'teenager'.

Etymology

Preteenager combines pre- ('before') and teen or teenager ('the teens', ages 13 to 19). So a preteenager is a child 'before' the teen years, usually about 9 to 12.