stepmother

noun

step·​moth·​er ˈstep-ˌmə-t͟hər How to pronounce stepmother (audio)
Synonyms of stepmothernext
: the wife of one's parent when distinct from one's natural or legal mother

Examples of stepmother in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Reba McEntire, Blackstock’s stepmother, had also previously owned a residence in the area. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026 The night before Pierre Damas Bel’s funeral, in early October, his father and stepmother held a wake at their home in Springfield, Ohio. — Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026 Gabrielle Hanson, the victim's stepmother, is believed to have known about the abuse and allegedly did nothing to stop it, the DA said. — Jose Fabian, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Marco Bello / Reuters Standing outside his father's home in Pensacola, Florida, amid the debris and damage left behind by Isaias, one man recounted how the storm took his stepmother's life and severely injured his father. — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stepmother

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stepmother was before the 12th century

Rhymes for stepmother

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Browse Nearby Words

stepmom
stepmother
stepmotherly
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Cite this Entry

“Stepmother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stepmother. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stepmother

noun
step·​moth·​er -ˌmət͟h-ər How to pronounce stepmother (audio)
: the wife of one's father when distinct from one's natural or legal mother

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