Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

In real life, in big cities and in smaller towns, families are single moms, they're stepfamilies, they're boyfriends and girlfriends not getting married at the moment, they're foster parents, they're two dads or two moms, they're a village. In real life, in 2005, families are richly diverse.
Could anyone define this new term, "Stepfamily*? How is it different from *stepmom* or *stepdad*?

Thanks

[Bob S.]

It's basically the same thing. It could mean a stepmother or stepfather and the stepbrothers/sisters that comes with them. Or if you are the adult, it would mean the stepchildren your new spouse brings into the marriage.
"Stepfamily" just sounds better than "step-whatever".