in-law
Americannoun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of in-law
First recorded in 1890–95; back formation from mother-in-law, brother-in-law, etc.
Explanation
An in-law is someone who is a relative because of marriage, like your husband's sister or your wife's father. You can refer to your spouse's entire family as your in-laws. In some countries, a married woman moves in with her in-laws, symbolically becoming part of their family. In the U.S. some families live with extended family members — a man may live with his wife, kids, and his mother- and father-in-law — but more often each individual nuclear family lives separately. In-law originally meant "anyone of a relationship not natural" or "not by blood."
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:
“We had made a decision that rather than long-term-care insurance, we had a house with an in-law suite,” Lanzoni said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
Pregnancy for Hedda is as distasteful a matter as these in-law intrusions, but it’s clear that George didn’t spend his entire honeymoon in the library and that the marriage plot has got ahead of her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026
The presence of the surly uncle, insufferable in-law, or grating girlfriend at the holiday table can make it hard to truly count one’s blessings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
“He speaks his mind. He’s great,” my favorite Missouri in-law tells me.
From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2025
I glanced across the floor and saw Dr. Roseberry Bokwe, one of the most respected African leaders and scholars of the time, chatting with his brother- in-law and my professor, Z. K. Matthews.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
But if it doesn’t affect them, why do Lex’s in-laws care how many books are in their house?
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
Her in-laws had a different reaction: “We were showing them the house, and they got more irritated with every room — like, ‘You have books in here too?’
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
By interesting coincidence, I happened to be in Nashville in January 1979, visiting my future in-laws, where I witnessed the most dramatic and emblematic episode of Mr. Alexander’s distinguished career.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
The Sharmas, who first reported their daughter's death to the police, have questioned why Twisha's in-laws did not inform the police.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
Dorothy, who grew up without grandparents, basked in the stability and warmth of the extended Vaughan family, but loving in-laws could provide only so much salve for a missing husband’s companionship.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
