🇬🇧 Stepparent meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

A stepparent is an adult who becomes part of your family when they marry your mother or father. They did not help create you biologically, but they can help take care of you, live with you, and love you like a parent. For example, if your dad marries someone new, that person can become your stepmom, which is a kind of stepparent. If your mom marries someone new, that person can become your stepdad. Stepparents are extra grown‑ups in your life who can support you, make rules, and share fun times with you.

My stepparent said, “We need to talk about your screen time,” while staring at their own phone like it was a long‑lost best friend.

When my stepparent tried to prove they were fun, they slipped on a banana peel they had just warned me about.

My stepparent tried to help with math homework and ended up asking the calculator for emotional support.

My stepparent promised to make a healthy dinner and somehow invented burnt salad with extra smoke.

The word “stepparent” has nothing to do with stepping on anything—it actually comes from an Old English word meaning “orphaned” or “bereaved.”

At the garden gate, Lucy waited as her stepparent carried a basket of peaches. The stepparent smiled, handed a peach, and taught Lucy to climb the low wall. Later the stepparent wiped a scrape, kissed her forehead, and sat beside her. Lucy hugged the warm stepparent and laughed, feeling safe.

This word is featured in some playlists to help boost your English vocabulary! Check out where “stepparent” (noun) makes an appearance and dive into themed playlists that make learning fun. 👍

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.