stepfather

American  

[step-fah-ther] / ˈstɛpˌfɑ ðər /

noun

1. the husband, by a later marriage, of one's parent.

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stepfather British  

/ ˈstɛpˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. a man who has married one's mother after the death or divorce of one's father

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Other Word Forms

• stepfatherly adverb

Etymology

Origin of stepfather

First recorded before 900; Middle English stepfader, Old English stēopfæder; step- + father ( def. )

Example Sentences

Yet that behavior keeps accumulating, pushing his parents—mother and stepfather, technically, wonderfully played by Iringó Réti and Ádám Tompa—to new heights of painful and exasperated uncertainty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Her stepfather, Peter, said they believed staff "would just brush off Molly's concerns" about her health and "not take them seriously".

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

My stepfather could build and install anything we needed, and my mom was a terrific gardener.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

She may still yearn for the approval, acknowledgement, attention and validation of her father, even if she received those things from her stepfather.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

“Your stepfather is just worried about money. That’s all. Besides,” she added, “Gabriel won’t have to setde for bean dip. I’ll make him enough seven-layer dip for the whole weekend. Guacamole. Sour cream. The works.”

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan