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
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
The child needs to be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, sibling or descendant, such as a grandchild.
—Robert Thorpe, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
In addition to Bell, Mellen is survived by her son Louis Baker Bell Jr., and two stepchildren, Lucinda Mellen and Henry Mellen.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 23 Dec. 2024
He is survived by four stepchildren: Justin Krumb, Carrie Spence, Dan Lindsay and Darrin Lindsay.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
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Kim Severson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
The child needs to be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, sibling or descendant, such as a grandchild.
—Robert Thorpe, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
In addition to Bell, Mellen is survived by her son Louis Baker Bell Jr., and two stepchildren, Lucinda Mellen and Henry Mellen.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 23 Dec. 2024
He is survived by four stepchildren: Justin Krumb, Carrie Spence, Dan Lindsay and Darrin Lindsay.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 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 30 Jan. 2025.
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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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