stepmother

noun

step·​moth·​er ˈstep-ˌmə-t͟hər 

: the wife of one's parent when distinct from one's natural or legal mother

Examples of stepmother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lizzie was never convicted of any crime associated with the murder of her father and stepmother. — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

In 1887, after Abby’s father died, Andrew bought out Abby’s stepmother’s share of her father’s house, so her sister could live there rent-free. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

For Sung, the challenge was finding continuity in a character who ages from a lovestruck young woman into a wife, mother and stepmother across shifting timelines and an uncertain grip on her own past. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Who killed Lizzie’s father and stepmother remains unknown, and the murder weapon was never found. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stepmother

• another
• godmother
• grandmother
• stepbrother
• brother
• mother
• nother
• other
• smother
• souther

Kids Definition

stepmother

noun

step·​moth·​er -ˌmət͟h-ər 

: the wife of one's father when distinct from one's natural or legal mother