The term now has a larger meaning. If the stepparent is to replace a living parent, such as in a divorce, the stepparent actually becomes an added parent. So a stepparent can either become a parent because of death or divorce. And sometimes stepparents may bring their own children into another family. This is called a blended family.
Many families feel that they are placed in a mixer and blended together.
In other words, a stepfamily is made up of a husband and wife who are married with or without children in the home where one or both of the spouses are in at least a second marriage. Again, this family is created because of a death or a divorce. Well, it doesn't have to. But many times it does. This tension is created because you are blending two families' rules, values and do's and don'ts.