Definition

A child of a person's spouse from a previous relationship, who is not the biological child of that person.

Example

She treats her stepchild as if they were her own.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how hard it can be to raise a stepchild?

Yeah, it must be challenging to build that bond.

I can imagine it feels different compared to raising your own kids.

Definitely, but with love and patience, it can work out well.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Stepchild → It is formed from "step" (from Old English *stæpe*, meaning a step or degree) and "child" (from Old English *cild*, meaning a young human). The term "stepchild" refers to a child of one's spouse from a previous relationship, indicating a familial relationship that is a step away from direct descent.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'step' as a degree of relationship, and 'child' as a young person. A stepchild is a child who is a step away from being your own.

Visually Confused Words