Stepford

S1T1E1P3F4O1R1D2

proper noun

A surname.

UncommonScrabble 14

Meanings

Stepford1

proper nounStepford (countable and uncountable, plural Stepfords)

plural Stepfords

  1. countableuncountableA surname.
  2. countableuncountableA placename
  3. A placename:
    1. countableuncountableA locality in Dumfries and Galloway council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NX8681).

Stepford2

adjectiveStepford (not comparable)
  1. not comparableDocile, unthinking and conformist.

    Were the Nazis trying to infiltrate the U.S. Navy with an army of gonorrhea-infected Stepford clones?

    2011 July 18, Matt Culkin, “The 16 Most Hilariously Dishonest Old School Advertisements”, Cracked.com
    2 more examples

    “He called you a boring Stepford wife.” A boring Stepford wife, Molly thought. For a moment it seemed to her that she was once more in prison, eating the tasteless food, hearing the click of locks, lying awake for sleepless night after sleepless night.

    1999, Mary Higgins Clark, We'll Meet Again, page 131

    So, when in a dorky Christmas town with Stepford people and themed shops, do as they do. Smile and act like you gave two shits about the person next to you.

    2008, Karin Tabke, Have Yourself a Naughty Little Santa, page 150
  2. not comparableAttractive but lacking any character.

    The woman seated behind the table looked up at him, smiling a Stepford smile. "Would you like to buy a chance to win a new Blazer? It's only five dollars." Rich shook his head, moved away from the table. "Not today."

    1993, Bentley Little, The Summoning, New York: Kensington Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 170

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Origin

Stepford · proper noun

  1. Proto-Germanic*stapiz
  2. Proto-Germanic*stappōnąbf.
  3. Proto-Germanic*stapjaną
  4. Proto-West Germanic*stappjan
  5. Old Englishstæppan
  6. Middle Englishsteppen
  7. Englishstep
  8. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*pértus
  10. Proto-Germanic*furduz
  11. Proto-West Germanic*furdu
  12. Old Englishford
  13. Englishford
  14. EnglishStepford

From step + ford.

Full word history & related roots →

Stepford · adjective

From the fictional place name Stepford. After the fictional suburb in the 1972 novel The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, and in two films of the same name based on the novel.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Stepford. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Stepford

MLA

“Stepford.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Stepford. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Stepford,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Stepford.

Source: Stepford on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.