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:
The King was not involved in the decision made by his son and daughter-in-law.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
We have been told that our daughter-in-law does not wish to have contact with our family.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
“During my year long journey, I have discovered how cruel, evil and greedy a human can be,” she wrote, seemingly alluding to the legal battle but not naming her daughter-in-law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Bruce Lebowitz’s daughter-in-law asked him at the March 2009 low if stocks would “go to zero.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
My mother would take one look at the daughter-in-law who answered the door at the sick house and she’d say, “Find another doctor.”
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
His grandad Michael, 65, started out in 1992 and, at various points over the years, has been joined by all five of his sons and two of his daughters-in-law.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2025
Moore is survived by his sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2024
“I think emotionally it would be hard on everybody, but it would be an amazing experience,” one of his daughters-in-law said.
From New York Times ● Dec. 24, 2022
Abu Raya said those killed were from three generations of Abu Rayas — a couple, their five sons, two daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 18, 2022
Her daughters-in-law loved her, too, and she returned the feeling.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
