stepparent

Married-in guardian

A stepparent is the spouse of one's biological parent who is not oneself a biological parent—a stepmother or stepfather.

The relationship forms through marriage rather than birth or adoption: My stepparent came into my life when I was twelve.

The prefix step- derives from an Old English word meaning orphaned or bereaved.

family

stepchild

Spouse's prior offspring

remarriageWedding after divorce/widowhood
householdDomestic unit of residents
custodyProtective care or control

half-sibling · in-law · kinship · relatives · adoption · foster · guardianship

bonding

attachment

Connection or fondness

trustConfidence in another
relationshipConnection between entities
rapportHarmonious mutual connection

connection · acceptance · patience · nurturing · understanding · empathy · closeness · support · involvement · communication

role

caregiver

One providing daily assistance

guardianProtective caretaker of another
mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
protectorOne who safeguards others

provider · authority · discipline · responsibility · supervision · advocate · surrogate · custodian · parenting · caregiving

Categories

familymother, father, parents, siblings, son
family lifebirth, kinship, childbirth, pregnancy, new baby
family termsparents, nuclear family, mothers, extended family, fathers
relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
loved onesspouse, partner, mother, father, parents
kinshipmother, father, sister, brother, children

Opposites

biological relationship

stepparentbiological parent

One who conceived offspring

birth parent · natural parent · biological mother · biological father · birth mother

legal permanence of parental status

stepparentadoptive parent

One who legally claims another's child

legal parent · adoptive mother · adoptive father · legal guardian · foster parent

Family

stepparents, stepparenting

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G