father-in-law

[fah-ther-in-law]

noun

plural

fathers-in-law 

1. the father of one's spouse.

father-in-law

noun

1. the father of one's wife or husband

Word History and Origins

Origin of father-in-law¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fader in lawe; 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

I wrote to my father-in-law to ask about the therapy session, and he said “I don’t recall going. Possibly blocked out.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The family said their "darling husband", father, grandfather, father-in-law and brother "peacefully slipped away surrounded by his loved ones and the sounds of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly".

Read more on BBC

A man due to provide security at the synagogue attacked by a knifeman had only avoided being there due to a late rota swap, his father-in-law said.

Read more on BBC

She credits conversations around the breakfast table with her husband and father-in-law, both prominent civil rights lawyers, with inspiring her to pursue a law career.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One woman, Tala al-Deeb, said four of the bodies were her sister's husband and two children, as well as her sister's father-in-law.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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