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

Examples of stepchild in a Sentence

The school has long been the forgotten stepchild of the state university system.

Recent Examples on the Web

And when Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, bounded on stage to join Harris at the Democratic National Convention, he was followed by her Jamaican Indian sister, white Gen Z stepchildren, Black brother-in-law and Indian auntie. —Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024

The future senator specifically included Vice President Kamala Harris — who has stepchildren but no biological children. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 4 Sep. 2024

Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has two stepchildren with her husband, Doug Emhoff. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 July 2024

Kerstin Emhoff, the mother of Harris’ stepchildren, and Harris’ stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, both said this week that Harris is a present and supportive parent. —Scottie Andrew, CNN, 27 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

stepchild

noun

step·​child ˈstep-ˌchīld 

: a child of one's wife or husband by a former partner