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

She is survived by two stepchildren, Elizabeth Vandermark and David Kissinger, and five step-grandchildren. — Robert D. McFadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026

Jones is survived by Viator, his fifth wife; his three children, Rachel, Jeanne and Walker; three stepchildren and 10 grandchildren, according to the New York Times. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Julie Andrews is proud to be a grandmother of 10 via her three daughters and two stepchildren. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 14 July 2026

Had a dependent child or stepchild who lived in your home throughout the year. — Nancy Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 June 2026

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