half sister

noun

: a sister related through one parent only

Example Sentences

Emily is my half sister.
Recent Examples on the Web Among those who died was Xi Jinping’s half sister. Jeremy Page, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2020 The beneficiaries are now Keough and her two younger half sisters. Matt Stevens, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2023 Her counterpart is Mary Kincaid Canon, Sallie’s much older half sister, married to a glibly pious Episcopal priest and herself a devoted Christian, who wants nothing less than to clean up Claiborne County from the scourge of moonshine and nothing more than to become a mother. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2023 The Queen Bee rivalry previously occupied by Blair and Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) has been taken up by Julien Calloway (Jordan Alexander), an influencer and It Girl, and Zoya Lott (Whitney Peak), a freshman who’s also Julien’s secret half sister. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 9 July 2021 Compounding the upheaval, James, now ensconced as the third Laird of Rossie, frequently neglected to pay the allowance that had been bequeathed to his half brothers and half sister: some people’s blood was apparently thicker than others’. David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023 But, everything begins to crumble when Lily (Joy Nash) appears and claims to be Emily’s half sister; once Lily joins Emily’s world, everything goes awry. Charna Flam, Variety, 14 Feb. 2023 Her closest companion was her half sister, Zanetta, called Netta, born in August 1972. Bronwen Dickey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2022 The Little Nell was the site of the engagement of Paris Hilton (the daughter of Kim and Kyle's half sister, Kathy Hilton) to her former fiance Chris Zylka, according to the hotel's website. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'half sister.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of half sister was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near half sister

Cite this Entry

“Half sister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half%20sister. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

half sister

noun
: a sister by one parent only

More from Merriam-Webster on half sister

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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