stepmother

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "stepmother" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the wife of your biological father who is not your biological mother. Example sentence: My stepmother often took me shopping when I was a teenager.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The fear of being abandoned by one's parents (Hansel and Gretel), or of being destroyed by (or destroying) a parent or sibling – always disguised as, say, a "wicked stepsister" or "stepmother" – recurs again and again, allowing children to access their darker fantasies.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Ms Miller's stepmother claims that the family was targeted as recently as last year).

The Economist

But, he wrote, "Nora [his stepmother] shot herself in the head with a shotgun; my father, his entire fortune squandered, died alone in a hospital where the nurses were unkind to him; my half-sister was committed to a high-security mental institution at Epsom; my mother had a bad stroke and lived out her last six years hemiplegic and helpless, her mind altered.

The Economist

My wife's godmother, another townie, calls weekenders "lizards", referring to their wrap-around sunglasses and alligator loafers.Yesterday we went to visit my father and stepmother, who live in another village just over the New York border.

The Economist

Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the vice-president's wife and the stepmother of a soldier, have launched a campaign on behalf of veterans and military families.

The Economist

His stepmother is also missing in Bentiu, suspected dead.The capital of oil-producing Unity State, or what's left of it, has been one of the bloodiest battlefields since Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar of attempting a coup on December 15th.

The Economist

And so, for far too long, Bangladesh's political parties have been unable to keep the India question from spoiling domestic politics.Where it was once seen as the benevolent midwife of independent Bangladesh, India has somehow come to look more like an evil stepmother, decades after it helped what was then East Pakistan break away from West Pakistan, in 1971.

The Economist

Only if all of them agree can their stepmother keep it.

The Economist

Lively and witty also a keen woman to hounds and a notch or two above him socially she was entirely unsuited to being a stepmother.

The Economist

He looks back on his boyhood yearning for Mona, the Egyptian-English woman he and his widowed father met in Alexandria, who became his stepmother.

The Economist

For these youngsters, a mother-in-law could be a sort of stepmother, raising and protecting them, teaching them to toil, helping them to decide when to have children themselves.But the tutelage could easily tip over into abuse.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the term "stepmother" when you need a neutral and clear description of the relationship. Avoid using overly negative connotations unless the context specifically warrants it.

Common error

Be mindful that "stepmother" carries a potentially negative stereotype due to fairy tales. When possible, focus on her positive qualities and contributions to the family.

Linguistic Context

The noun "stepmother" functions as a designation, identifying the wife of one's father who is not their biological mother. Ludwig showcases its usage across various contexts, affirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

41%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "stepmother" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe the wife of one's father who isn't their biological mother. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. Though often portrayed negatively in fiction, contemporary usage is generally neutral, predominantly appearing in News & Media and Encyclopedias. When using "stepmother", be mindful of potential negative stereotypes and consider using more positive terms like "bonus mother" if appropriate. Common alternatives also include the shorter, more informal "stepmom", "stepmama", or "stepmum".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stepmom

Shorter, more informal term for stepmother.

stepmama

A variant of stepmom, also informal.

stepmum

British English equivalent of stepmom.

bonus mother

Emphasizes a positive, affectionate relationship.

adoptive mother

Focuses on the role of nurturing and care.

father's wife

A descriptive and neutral alternative.

co-mother

Highlights shared parental responsibilities.

second mother

Acknowledges a maternal figure after the biological mother.

female stepparent

A more formal and general term.

surrogate mother figure

Implies a supportive, maternal role.

FAQs

How to use "stepmother" in a sentence?

You can use "stepmother" to refer to the wife of your biological father who is not your biological mother. For example, "My stepmother often took me shopping when I was a teenager."

What's a less formal way to say "stepmother"?

Less formal alternatives include "stepmom", "stepmama", or "stepmum".

Which is correct, "stepmother" or "step mom"?

"Stepmother" is the formal spelling, while "step mom" is an informal, two-word variation of "stepmom".

Is it okay to use "wicked stepmother"?

The term "wicked stepmother" is a trope and should only be used when the stepmother genuinely exhibits wicked behavior, as the term carries a very negative connotation.