stepchild

noun

step·​child ˈstep-ˌchī(-ə)ld How to pronounce stepchild (audio)
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 nationsF. R. Smith

Examples of stepchild in a Sentence

The school has long been the forgotten stepchild of the state university system.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eligible family members include parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, children (including adopted and stepchildren), grandchildren and household members. Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025 Epstein, who had been a flight attendant for several years, leaves behind two children and two stepchildren, according to Bloom. Alaa Elassar, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025 Survivors include his wife, Michelle Frazier, a retired educator; two stepchildren, David Frazier-Jacobs and Cheryl Kinsler; two brothers, Larry Manning and Jerome Manning; and two sisters, Christine Hankins and Joanne Manning. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2025 Her husband survives her, as do her stepchildren, Audrey Thiault, Ken Bass, David Bass and Liz Broadway; her sister, Marie Louise Meyer; her brother, James Gordon Meyer; and seven grandchildren. Kim Severson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for stepchild 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of stepchild was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near stepchild

Cite this Entry

“Stepchild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stepchild. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

stepchild

noun
step·​child ˈstep-ˌchīld How to pronounce stepchild (audio)
: a child of one's wife or husband by a former partner

More from Merriam-Webster on stepchild

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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