father-in-law
Americannoun
plural
fathers-in-lawnoun
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.
One man, Sergei, told Reuters his 83-year-old father in law spent three days in his attic in Oleshky before the water receded and he could come down.
From Reuters • Jun. 13, 2023
"My own father in law came out of a cafe in the village and was met by the sight - it is tragic," he said.
From BBC • Mar. 9, 2023
It was with the Leafs that the 6-foot-4, 215-pound forward spent the tail end of his playing days at a time his father in law happened to be the team president.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2021
"Michael joins me in thanking you all for your overwhelming love, kind words and prayers since the passing of my father in law Kirk," wrote Zeta-Jones in the caption.
From Fox News • Feb. 9, 2020
The Rechabites are said to have been a branch of the Kenites, and to have descended from Hobab, the son of Jethro, Moses' father in law.
From Sermons on Various Important Subjects by Lee, Andrew
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.
