stepdaughter

American

[step-daw-ter] / ˈstɛpˌdɔ tər /

noun

a daughter of one's husband or wife by a previous marriage.

stepdaughter British

/ ˈstɛpˌdɔːtə /

noun

a daughter of one's husband or wife by a former union

"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 stepdaughter

before 900; Middle English stepdohter, Old English stēopdohtor. See step-, daughter

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.

For clarity, my will leaves a significant portion to my stepdaughter, a smaller portion to my new stepson, and the remainder to my husband.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

You gave up your career to raise your stepdaughter, and you used marital funds to do that until they reached adulthood.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

When Melinda Guerra’s 18-year-old stepdaughter initially resisted the phone-free policy, Guerra explained that the rule applied to everyone, kids and grown-ups alike.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

Accepting this made it easier for her to decide how to spend the day herself - as well as plan a new way of celebrating together with her stepdaughter, either before or after.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield was the cousin of Deborah’s husband’s former stepdaughter, or something like that.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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