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stepchild

noun

  1. child of spouse but not self
L221430 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈstɛp.tʃaɪld/

noun

Etymology: From Middle English stepchild, stepchyld, from Old English stēopċild (“stepchild”), equivalent to step- + child. Compare Dutch stiefkind (“stepchild”), German Stiefkind (“stepchild”), Swedish styvbarn (“stepchild”).

  1. The child of one's spouse from a previous relationship.

    “On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” and in a lighthearted moment, explained — as she did during the last presidential election cycle — that in her blended family, her stepchildren affectionately call her Momala.”

    “Calculating the growth in stepfamilies isn’t simple, but a demographic analysis published last year estimated that about 16 percent of Americans over age 70 have at least one stepchild. […] Overall, stepchildren provide less care to older adults”

  2. A bereaved child; one who has lost father or mother.