daughter-in-law
Americannoun
-
daughters-in-law
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of daughter-in-law
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English doughter in lawe; see origin at daughter, 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.
See Examples For:
His protagonist is a writer who’s trying to build a relationship with his grandchild, Ben, while navigating the half-suppressed scorn of his daughter-in-law and the irritated complacency of his son.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
“Many people have reservations about this scenario. After all, your son-in-law or daughter-in-law could remarry and the assets you worked a lifetime to accumulate could end up benefiting their new spouse.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
"Shannen, our daughter-in-law, was funny and was also an amazing mum and they thought the world of their little family."
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
She contacted him last year looking for a gift for her future daughter-in-law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
The grindstone, pestle and mortar were too heavy to take; in any case my daughter-in-law would be providing these.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
Gisèle Pelicot sat behind her legal team alongside her two sons and daughters-in-law.
From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2024
In the chaos of the departure, Lomikovska became separated from her son and two daughters-in-law, including one, Olha Lomikovska, injured by shrapnel days earlier.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2024
Moore is survived by his sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2024
Photos from their trips, along with smiling images of their sons, daughters-in-law and three granddaughters, adorn every square foot of their spacious two-bedroom apartment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2023
Then all the women gave a wail of joy—daughters, daughters-in-law, and the Lady Eurydike, Klymenos’ eldest daughter.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
