brother-in-law

American  

[bruhth-er-in-law] / ˈbrʌð ər ɪnˌlɔ /

noun

PLURAL

brothers-in-law

1. the brother of one's spouse.

2. the husband of one's sister or brother.

3. the husband of one's spouse's sister or brother.

---

brother-in-law British  

noun

1. the brother of one's wife or husband

2. the husband of one's sister

3. the husband of the sister of one's husband or wife

---

Etymology

Origin of brother-in-law

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English brother in law(e); brother, in, law ¹; from Middle English in-lawe “in law,” i.e., “a person within the regulation and protection of the law,” based on the prohibition by Roman civil law and, later, Christian canon law, of marriages within four degrees of consanguinity, i.e., up to and including first cousins

Example Sentences

Do I tell my sister and brother-in-law that the turkey was undercooked last year and could have given us all food poisoning?

From MarketWatch

Lee's brother-in-law said the children's other grandmother was sick with cancer and still did not know about the murders.

From Barron's

The president’s brother-in-law, who was at the center of the scandal, denied involvement.

From The Wall Street Journal

The short answer to your question: Your brother-in-law should start collecting now, but not necessarily because he needs to be in a rush to file an application before she dies.

From MarketWatch

An introduction from his brother-in-law led to a job with a company selling mortgages.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aunt
• cousin
• father
• folk
• mother
• niece
• sibling
• uncle