Word
stepmother
Phoneticsstep·moth·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɛpˌməðɝ/
UK/stˈɛpmʌðɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the woman who is married to your father or mother but is not your biological parent. She becomes part of your family after a parent remarries.
n. the wife of one's father or the female spouse of one's parent, where no biological relationship exists between the woman and the child.
Examples
“My stepmother and I go shopping every Saturday morning.”
“After his father remarried, he spent several months getting to know his new stepmother before they moved in together.”
“The legal rights of a stepmother regarding her spouse's children vary significantly by jurisdiction, often requiring formal adoption to establish full parental authority.”
Examples
simple
“My stepmother and I go shopping every Saturday morning.”
contextual
“After his father remarried, he spent several months getting to know his new stepmother before they moved in together.”
complex
“The legal rights of a stepmother regarding her spouse's children vary significantly by jurisdiction, often requiring formal adoption to establish full parental authority.”
Usage
Countable; follows standard pluralization rules ('stepmothers').
Etymology
From Middle English stepmoder, from Old English stēopmōdor, from Proto-Germanic *steupamōdēr (“stepmother”), corresponding to step- + mother. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stäifmuur (“stepmother”), Dutch stiefmoeder (“stepmother”), German Low German Steevmoder (“stepmother”), German Stiefmutter (“stepmother”), Danish stedmor (“stepmother”), Swedish styvmor (“stepmother”), Icelandic stjúpmóðir (“stepmother”). Compare also West Frisian styfmem (“stepmother”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- 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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/stepmother