Meanings
- euphemisticuncountablethe targeting of 12-step addiction recovery newcomers for romantic or sexual relationships.
In Boston AA, newcomer-seducing is called 13th-Stepping and is regarded as the province of true bottom-feeders.
1996, Wallace, David Foster, Infinite Jest2 more examples
He was known around the recovery rooms as a perineal “13th stepper” which meant he hit on every woman that came into the rooms
2017 November 6, Charlie Gardner, Always Remember This Moment[…]I started asking literally anyone that would pick up the phone with me, you know, have you heard of the 13th step? And it turns out a lot of people had.
2023, “'The 13th step' investigates sexual misconduct in New Hampshire's addiction centers”, in Montana Public Radio
Cite this entry
13th step. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/13th%20step
“13th step.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/13th%20step. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “13th step,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/13th%20step.
Source: 13th step on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.