stepchild
/'steptʃaild/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A stepchild is a child that one's spouse has from a previous marriage or relationship. The person is not the biological parent of this child but is married to the child's biological parent.
Usage
The term "stepchild" is used to describe a familial relationship created through marriage. It is a neutral, factual term commonly used in legal, social, and everyday contexts to clarify family structure. * It is typically used with possessive determiners (e.g., my stepchild, her stepchild). * The relationship is reciprocal: if someone is a child's stepfather or stepmother, that child is their stepchild.
Examples
- She loves and cares for her stepchild as if he were her own son.
- When they got married, he welcomed his wife's two daughters as his stepchildren.
- The will included provisions for both his biological children and his stepchild.
- Blending a family requires patience and understanding between parents and stepchildren.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe a project, department, or idea that is neglected or receives less attention and resources compared to others.
- Example: "For years, the arts program has been the stepchild of the school district's budget."
Variants and Related Words
- Stepfather (n): The husband of one's mother, who is not one's biological father.
- Stepmother (n): The wife of one's father, who is not one's biological mother.
- Stepchildren (n): Plural form of stepchild.
- Stepfamily (n): A family where at least one parent has children from a previous relationship.
Synonyms
- Stepson (n): Specifically, a male stepchild.
- Stepdaughter (n): Specifically, a female stepchild.
- Note: "Stepson" and "stepdaughter" are more specific gendered terms, while "stepchild" is gender-neutral.
Idioms and Phrases
- To treat someone like a stepchild: To treat someone unfairly, with neglect, or as less important than others. This idiom derives from the outdated and negative stereotype of stepchildren being mistreated.
- Example: "The classic car division feels it's being treated like a stepchild since the company shifted its focus to electric vehicles."
Noun
- a child of your spouse by a former marriage