Definition

Noun: - A private school that prepares students for higher education, typically for entry into a university or college. It is a secondary-level institution, often with a rigorous academic focus.

Usage

• Used to refer to a specific type of independent, fee-charging school for students usually of secondary school age.
• Often implies a school with a strong academic tradition and a focus on preparing pupils for university entrance exams and future studies.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The term is often shortened informally to "prep school".
• In some contexts, especially in the United Kingdom, a preparatory school (or "pre-prep") may specifically refer to a school preparing younger children for entry into older, more established private secondary schools (often called "public schools" in the UK context).

Variants and Related Words

• Prep school (n): The common abbreviated form of "preparatory school".
• College-preparatory school (n): A term sometimes used to emphasize the specific goal of university preparation.

Synonyms

• Private school: A broader term for any school not administered by the government, which may or may not have a university-preparatory focus.
• Independent school: Similar to private school, emphasizing its operational and financial independence from the state.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning centers on the school's function: preparation for the next academic stage.
• It is distinct from a general public (state) secondary school, as it is private and often selective.
• While commonly associated with secondary education, the specific age range can vary by country.

Noun

1. a private secondary school