noun

stepchild

STEP-child

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Stepchild (noun) means the child of one's husband or wife from an earlier relationship. Example: “He legally adopted his stepchild after the wedding.”

noun

The child of one's husband or wife from an earlier relationship.

"He legally adopted his stepchild after the wedding."

"She treats her stepchildren exactly as she treats her own son."

"Their blended family includes two stepchildren and a baby of their own."

How to use stepchild

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stepchild is your husband's or wife's son or daughter from before you were together.

When to use it

Stepchild is a neutral, everyday family term, not a formal or legal label.

Memory tip

Remember that step- words describe family ties created by marriage, not by blood.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

her stepchild his stepchildren raise a stepchild a stepchild from his first marriage

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He legally adopted his _____ after the wedding.

Etymology

Stepchild goes back to Middle English forms such as stepchild and stepchyld, which in turn come from Old English steopcild. That Old English word was simply step- joined to cild, meaning child, and close cognates survive in Dutch, German and Swedish.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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stepkid

Antonyms

stepparent

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a stepchild and an adopted child?

A stepchild is a spouse's child from an earlier relationship and keeps that legal status unless formally adopted, whereas an adopted child has been legally made a full child of the adopting parent.

Is stepchild ever written with a hyphen?

Yes, step-child is used as an alternative spelling alongside the more common one-word form stepchild.

What do you call a stepchild's stepparent's other children?

Those are usually called stepsiblings, or half-siblings if they share one biological parent with the stepchild.

What is the meaning of stepchild?

"stepchild" (noun) means the child of one's husband or wife from an earlier relationship.