stepchild
noun
step·child
ˈstep-ˌchī(-ə)ld 
1
: a child of one's wife or husband by a former partner
2
: one that fails to receive proper care or attention
is no longer a stepchild in the family of nations—
F. R. Smith
F. R. SmithExamples of stepchild in a Sentence
The school has long been the forgotten stepchild of the state university system.
Recent Examples on the Web
She is survived by four children, three stepchildren, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 3 Oct. 2024
The same can be true for parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, siblings, second cousins, college roommates, spouses, life partners, and unlabeled people who love each other and are committed to each other’s well-being.
—Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
But Harris also talks about more personal details, like her relationship with her stepchildren and her deep ties to her college sorority.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 20 Sep. 2024
This week, we were introduced to the West Tower — the redheaded stepchild of the building, across the courtyard from our protagonists’ digs.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stepchild 
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Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 3 Oct. 2024
The same can be true for parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, siblings, second cousins, college roommates, spouses, life partners, and unlabeled people who love each other and are committed to each other’s well-being.
—Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
But Harris also talks about more personal details, like her relationship with her stepchildren and her deep ties to her college sorority.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 20 Sep. 2024
This week, we were introduced to the West Tower — the redheaded stepchild of the building, across the courtyard from our protagonists’ digs.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stepchild
Dictionary Entries Near stepchild
Cite this Entry
“Stepchild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stepchild. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
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stepchild
noun
step·child
ˈstep-ˌchīld
: a child of one's wife or husband by a former partner
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