Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for stepsister. Search instead for Step sister.
Synonyms

stepsister

American  
[step-sis-ter] / ˈstɛpˌsɪs tər /

noun

  1. one's stepfather's or stepmother's daughter by a previous marriage.

stepsister British  
/ ˈstɛpˌsɪstə /

noun

  1. a daughter of one's stepmother or stepfather by a union with someone other than one's father or mother respectively

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of stepsister

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at step-, sister

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My stepsister said, “Oh, that was a long time ago, before my dad passed, and it was his idea,” but her dad died almost six months ago.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

What I found in this fairy tale is that the stepsister is the most relatable character and has been for thousands of years.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2025

And all the dreamier if they put that team in her town — and not that stepsister city across the river.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2025

Baena's surviving family includes his mother Barbara Stern and stepfather Roger Stern; father Scott and stepmother Michele Baena; brother Brad Baena; stepsister Bianca Gabay and stepbrother Jed Fluxman.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2025

But Ash detected an undercurrent of anxiety in her stepsister, and she could not help it — she began to feel sorry for her.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.