noun
stepmother
STEP-muh-thur/ˈstepmʌðər/
A parent's wife who is not one's biological mother.
The father's new wife becomes the child's stepmother.
Etymology
Step-, presumed originally to suggest loss, combined with mother to describe someone becoming a mother to an orphan. The orphanage association faded, leaving the relationship created by marriage to a parent.
In context
the stepmother— Unable to tolerate the daughter of the first wife— Who resorted to such despicable tactics.
More examples
- She introduced her father's wife as her stepmother.
- The children welcomed their new stepmother.
- Her stepmother attended the graduation with her father.
Forms
stepmother · stepmothers
Similar words
- mother-in-law
- A spouse's mother rather than a parent's wife.
- adoptive mother
- A mother through legal adoption rather than marriage to a parent.