stepfather

Meaning

Noun

• The husband of one's biological mother, other than one's biological father, especially following the divorce or death of the father.

Related

Similar words

• stepdad
• co-father
• father-in-law

Broader meaning words

• stepparent

Origin

• From Middle English stepfader, from Old English stēopfæder, from Proto-Germanic *steupafadēr, equivalent to step- + father.
• Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stäiffoar, Dutch stiefvader, German Low German Steevvader, German Stiefvater, Swedish styvfar, Icelandic stjúpfaðir.