What does stepdaughter mean?
A stepdaughter is the daughter of one's spouse from a previous relationship. The label describes the family connection created through marriage rather than direct biological descent, although the two relationships can coexist if the speaker has also parented the child. The term is normally neutral in tone and is used in both British and American English. Because step- appears in related labels such as stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister, the word often appears in discussions of blended or remarried families. A speaker may describe a woman's relation to her husband in this way even if no legal parent-child relationship exists between them. The word also carries no necessary emotional implication: a stepdaughter may be warmly welcomed, while another such relationship may be distant or strained. The concise compound immediately identifies this specific family role.
nounA stepdaughter is a daughter of one's spouse from a previous marriage. The term denotes the relationship through marriage and does not necessarily exclude a biological or adoptive parent-child relationship.
- The daughter of one's husband or wife by a previous marriage.
"At the rehearsal, Clara warmly introduced her stepdaughter, who had flown in from Edinburgh."
"At the rehearsal, Clara warmly introduced her stepdaughter, who had flown in from Edinburgh."
"His autobiography explores the uneasy relationship with his stepdaughter after his marriage to her mother."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s.
"Her two stepdaughters joined the choir."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of stepdaughter
The word is an English compound formed with step-, an element historically used to mark a family relationship arising through marriage rather than direct descent. The same element appears in stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister, all of which describe comparable ties created through marriage. The compound has been recorded since the Middle English period, and its modern meaning has remained stable.
Related word forms
How stepdaughter is actually used
Neutral in register and standard in both British and American English. The word identifies a family relationship through marriage and carries no necessary implication about affection, closeness, or family harmony.
Easily confused with stepdaughter
A stepson is the son of one's spouse from a previous marriage; stepdaughter is the corresponding female relationship.