brother-in-law

[ bruhth-er-in-law ]

noun

, plural broth·ers-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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of brother-in-law¹

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

In the video, Solange smacks and kicks her brother-in-law while Beyonce DOESN'T EVEN FLINCH.

From The Daily Beast

Seven days after receiving the letter from Navarro, Abidogun had yet to break the “bad news” to his brother-in-law and his nephew.

From The Daily Beast

Her mother, brother, and nephew—and her brother-in-law did it, too.

From The Daily Beast

Jenner's soon-to-be brother-in-law, Kanye West, beamed with pride as he watched from the front row.

From The Daily Beast

So he rode home to call Virginia City, to ask for his foster brother-in-law.

From The Daily Beast

Their jurisdictions overlapped and the Gascon would play second fiddle to no one save to his great brother-in-law.

From Project Gutenberg

She reached out for her pistol, but withdrew her hand as she heard the careless laugh of her brother-in-law.

From Project Gutenberg

The ruling passion of the brother-in-law was a stern and acrimonious party spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

The brother-in-law of Vergniaud came to visit him, and brought with him his son, a child ten years of age.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Levine's face remained supernaturally polite while it guarded his opinion that it wasn't his brother-in-law's magazine at all.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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