13th stepper
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A more experienced member of a 12 step recovery program who targets newcomers for romantic or sexual relationships.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
One of Boston AA’s stronger suggestions is that newcomers avoid all romantic relationships for at least a year. So somebody with some sober time predating and trying to seduce a newcomer is almost tantamount to rape, is the Boston consensus. Not that it isn’t done. But the ones that do it never have
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “13th stepper” mean?
A more experienced member of a 12 step recovery program who targets newcomers for romantic or sexual relationships.
Is “13th stepper” formal or informal?
13th stepper is generally slang.