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.
At the February 2026 Grammy Awards, country star Reba McEntire—a longtime friend of Clarkson's and stepmother to the late Blackstock—offered another update on how the family was doing in the wake of their loss. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026 There are several elements in Bridgerton season 4 that resemble the story line of Cinderella, from enchanting balls to gloves and slippers — and even an evil stepmother. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 In Tim Burton’s breakthrough film, O’Hara played tragically hip Delia Deetz, the pretentious and self-absorbed stepmother of Winona Ryder’s Lydia. Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026 When her stepmother later went to check on Athena in her bedroom, the little girl was missing. Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stepmother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stepmother. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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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