stepdad

stepdad — noun

1. a man who has married your mother or is in a lasting relationship with her, and

1.nounB1
Definition

a man who has married your mother or is in a lasting relationship with her, and who takes on a father-like role in the family even though he is not your biological father — the informal word that is more common in everyday speech than 'stepfather'.

Example

Apinya's stepdad walked her to school each morning while her mother worked night shifts.

possessive + stepdad + action verb

After the wedding ceremony, Quinn introduced his new stepdad to everyone at the party.

stepdad after marriage scenario

Common collocations
  • my/his/her/their stepdad
  • new stepdad
  • good stepdad
  • call someone stepdad
  • stepdad's house
Synonyms
  • stepfather

    more formal register; preferred in official documents, formal writing, and introductions

  • bonus dad

    very informal and affectionate; not as widely used as 'stepdad'

Grammar Patterns

possessive + stepdad

stepdad + of + noun

Usage Note

More common in everyday conversation than 'stepfather'. People of all ages use 'stepdad', but it is especially common among children, teenagers, and young adults when talking about their mother's husband or long-term partner.

Common Mistakes

My stepdad is my biological father, but my parents are divorced.
My stepdad has been married to my mother for three years, but he is not my biological father.
'stepdad' always means the man is not your birth father.

Word family

  • stepfather
    nounB1
  • stepmother
    nounB1
  • stepchild
    nounB2
  • stepsister
    nounB1
  • stepbrother
    nounB1
  • dad
    nounA1
  • daddy
    nounA1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms refer to a man in a parental role who is married to or in a long-term partnership with one's mother. 'Stepfather' is the most formal and standard term — it appears on medical forms, school records, and in legal contexts. 'Stepdad' is the everyday spoken equivalent, carrying a warmer and more familiar tone; it is used by children and adults alike in casual conversation. 'Bonus dad' is a newer, very informal expression that emphasises affection and the idea that the relationship is an extra gift in one's life. For example: a child might say 'My stepdad taught me to ride a bike' in ordinary talk, but the school enrolment form would list 'stepfather' as the relationship.

stepdad ↗stepfatherbonus dad

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • my new stepdad
  • your stepdad's house

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'stepdad' combines 'step-' with 'dad'. The prefix 'step-' comes from Old English 'steop-', which originally meant 'orphaned' or 'bereaved' — a step-relation was someone gained through a parent's remarriage after the original parent had died. Over time, the meaning broadened to cover any blended-family relationship through remarriage, whether or not a death occurred. 'Dad' (first recorded in the 1500s) is an informal nursery word for 'father'. 'Stepdad' has been in use since the early 1900s as a casual alternative to 'stepfather'.