stepmother

American  

[step-muhth-er] / ˈstɛpˌmʌð ər /

noun

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

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stepmother British  

/ ˈstɛpˌmʌðə /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stepmotherliness
  noun
• stepmotherly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of stepmother

First recorded before 900; Middle English stepmoder, Old English stēopmōdor; step- + mother ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

She praised Bernard as "an amazing human being" and said he had found it very difficult to see his stepmother in court "stand there and lie and try to discredit him".

From BBC • May 26, 2026

The video was recorded by Chiu’s stepmother, who witnessed the bear from a distance, he wrote in the caption.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Only in Folan’s late teens did she find a more nurturing home life with her father and stepmother in Katonah, N.Y.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

"If I was alone, I wouldn't be hiding my name. But now I'm a stepmother, part of a complex family structure, and I feel a sense of responsibility," she said.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

She heard the carriage door open and her stepmother say, “Who is that?”

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo