father-in-law
Americannoun
-
fathers-in-law
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of father-in-law
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fader in lawe; see origin at father, 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:
Making sure your father-in-law has a safe and secure place to live is the No. 1 priority.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
I would not rule out reaching out for third-party help, if you suspect your father-in-law was an unwitting participant.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
Matt gave 6-year-old Jacob to his brother-in-law to seek cover at a hotel and went searching for his father-in-law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
At about 18:00, Foster, his father-in-law and son walked towards an elevator and was playing with his son, said his lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
The only colonel he trusted was Colonel Moodus, and even be had an in with his father-in-law.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Fathers, fathers-in-law, and brothers of current Royals players and staff travel with the group.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 6, 2023
Each of the sons’ fathers-in-law also had accounts at the bank worth millions of dollars, as did other businessmen linked to the Mubaraks, whom Egyptian authorities tried on corruption charges.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2022
About 35 to 40 percent of Purush Spandana will be purchased by women, who hope that by casually leaving a copy around the house, their husbands, fathers-in-law or sons may give it a glance.
From New York Times ● Nov. 12, 2012
And Paul finally realizes that his office/apartment/mole cave of blurry boundaries, provocative teenagers and angry fathers-in-law from exotic complicated countries, does not, right now, feel like the best place to raise a 12-year-old.
From Salon ● Nov. 24, 2010
Ten years later people still dwelt on the magnificent hospitality they had received, and held Kumodini Babu up as a model to fathers-in-law.
From Tales of Bengal by S. B. Banerjea
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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.
