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
Chris Warren, who plays Hayden Moss, has two children and one stepchild with his wife, Layla Warren.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
While Elon reportedly explored keeping Errol’s children and stepchildren with Bezuidenhout in California, and even becoming their legal guardian, the family chose to return to South Africa in 2003.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Just 16 months after her husband’s death, Dana, a non-smoker, died of lung cancer, leaving her 13-year-old son in the care of a loving, neighboring family and her two stepchildren.
—Max Gao, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
Republicans have again filed bills that would turn Austin into something of a stepchild of the state — and hamper its ability to hire lobbyists to promote its interests.
—Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stepchild
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Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
While Elon reportedly explored keeping Errol’s children and stepchildren with Bezuidenhout in California, and even becoming their legal guardian, the family chose to return to South Africa in 2003.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Just 16 months after her husband’s death, Dana, a non-smoker, died of lung cancer, leaving her 13-year-old son in the care of a loving, neighboring family and her two stepchildren.
—Max Gao, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
Republicans have again filed bills that would turn Austin into something of a stepchild of the state — and hamper its ability to hire lobbyists to promote its interests.
—Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stepchild
Cite this Entry
“Stepchild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stepchild. Accessed 5 Oct. 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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