stepfather

Everyday

A stepfather is a man who is married to your mother but is not your birth father. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons about families, pupils learn that families come in many shapes: some children have a stepfather, a stepmother, stepbrothers and stepsisters after a parent marries again. A stepfather can be a loving parent. In fairy tales step-parents are sometimes cruel, but in real life that is a story trope, not the truth. Phrases: «my stepfather», «stepdad» (informal).

Examples

• My stepfather takes me to football practice. tree →
• Her mum married again, so she has a stepfather now. tree →
• I call my stepfather by his first name. tree →
• My stepdad makes the best pancakes. tree →
• He has a father and a stepfather who both love him. tree →
• Tom's stepfather came to the school play. tree →
• A stepfather is part of a blended family. tree →
• The young prince was thankful that his stepfather was going to the war, and secretly hoped he might never come back. tree →

Note

Plural: stepfathers. Informal: stepdad. Related: stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister. A stepbrother is not a «half-brother»: a half-brother shares one birth parent with you, a stepbrother shares none. Myth: stepfathers are wicked — that comes from fairy tales.