Definition

A girl or woman who is the daughter of one's stepparent, but not a biological sibling.

Example

My stepsister and I often go shopping together.

Conversation

Did you know that my dad is getting married again?

Really? That's exciting news!

Yeah, and I’ll finally have a stepsister to hang out with.

That sounds fun! I hope you two get along well.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Stepsister → It is formed from "step" (from Old English *stæpe*, meaning a step or degree) and "sister" (from Old English *sweoster*, meaning a female sibling). The word "stepsister" refers to a sister who is related through the marriage of one of the parents rather than by blood.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'step' as a degree of relationship, and 'sister' as a female sibling. This helps you remember that a stepsister is a sister related through a step or marriage, not by blood.

Visually Confused Words