stepson

American

[step-suhn] / ˈstɛpˌsʌn /

noun

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

stepson British

/ ˈstɛpˌsʌn /

noun

a son 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 stepson

before 900; Middle English stepsone, Old English stēopsunu. See step-, son

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.

Several names were floated to lead from the right, including Jair's third wife and former first lady of Brazil Michelle Bolsonaro -- who faced family criticism for lukewarm support of her stepson, Flavio.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The fraternity attracts the children of the very wealthy, including Evan Whitesell, the stepson of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

That includes your stepdaughter, her sibling, your stepson and second husband.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

Ruben's stepson James was worried by what he saw and called the police on more than one occasion to report his concerns.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Allen’s stepson, Phillip, had been a fullback on the 1980 Permian team that won the state championship.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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