Word
stepdaughter
Phoneticsstep·daugh·ter, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɛpˌdɔtɝ/
UK/stˈɛpdɔːtɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the daughter of your husband or wife. You are not her biological parent, but you are married to her parent.
n. the daughter of one's spouse. Refers to a child by marriage rather than by blood.
Examples
“She is a wonderful stepdaughter to her stepfather.”
“After the wedding, the two families spent the weekend getting to know each other, including the new stepdaughter.”
“The legal relationship between a stepdaughter and her stepparent is often formalised through adoption or shared household responsibilities, though it lacks the biological connection of a traditional parent-child bond.”
Examples
simple
“She is a wonderful stepdaughter to her stepfather.”
contextual
“After the wedding, the two families spent the weekend getting to know each other, including the new stepdaughter.”
complex
“The legal relationship between a stepdaughter and her stepparent is often formalised through adoption or shared household responsibilities, though it lacks the biological connection of a traditional parent-child bond.”
Etymology
From Middle English stepdoughter, stepdoghter, steopdohter, from Old English stēopdohtor (“stepdaughter”), from Proto-Germanic *steupaduhtēr (“stepdaughter”), equivalent to step- + daughter. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stäifdochter (“stepdaughter”), West Frisian styfdochter (“stepdaughter”), Dutch stiefdochter (“stepdaughter”), German Low German Steevdochter (“stepdaughter”), German Stieftochter (“stepdaughter”), Danish steddatter (“stepdaughter”), Swedish styvdotter (“stepdaughter”), Icelandic stjúpdóttir (“stepdaughter”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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