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

Sharing decisions and documents with each other, our children, and stepchildren. —Naomi Cahn, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Survivors include his wife Sally, former wife Judy, sister Faye, three children, two stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, one niece and one nephew. —Jon Burlingame, Variety, 30 May 2025

Walker married Alysha Nichols in 2012 and left behind four children and two stepchildren, according to the obituary. —Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Mar. 2025

Lauder is survived by his wife; his sons William and Gary; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, many stepchildren and step grandchildren, as well as his brother. —Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for stepchild

• beguiled
• brainchild
• compiled
• defiled
• exiled
• grandchild
• profiled
• refiled
• reviled
• stockpiled
• domiciled
• reconciled

Kids Definition

stepchild

noun

step·​child ˈstep-ˌchīld 

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