Meaning & use

stepfather

noun·Everyday

The husband of one's parent, when that person is not one's biological father.

See it in a sentence

Her stepfather walked her down the aisle at the wedding.

He grew close to his stepfather over the years after his parents' divorce.

A note on using this word

Stepfather refers specifically to a parent by marriage, distinct from a foster father or adoptive father, who take on different legal roles.

Words with a similar meaning

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Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

biological father

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