sister-in-law
Americannoun
plural
sisters-in-law-
the sister of one's spouse.
-
the wife of one's brother or sister.
-
the wife of one's spouse's sister or brother.
noun
-
the sister of one's husband or wife
-
the wife of one's brother
Etymology
Origin of sister-in-law
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English syster in lawe; sister, 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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The employee was his sister-in-law, the person confirmed.
From Los Angeles Times
However, detective work by his sister-in-law tracked down a social media profile for Patrick Hanna.
From BBC
It’s the exact opposite of what you truly want, but your husband has allowed his brother and sister-in-law to coerce and/or guilt-trip your husband into an unwelcome financial arrangement.
From MarketWatch
After my sister-in-law left me the IRA, I purchased a house in Portsmouth, Va. I put my daughter on the deed so I could qualify for the mortgage.
From MarketWatch
"My sister-in-law is coming to visit and she's had real trouble trying to get a train," one woman tells me.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
