mother-in-law

[muhth-er-in-law]

noun

plural

mothers-in-law 

1. the mother of one's spouse.

mother-in-law

noun

1. the mother of one's wife or husband

Word History and Origins

Origin of mother-in-law¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English moder in lawe; mother ¹ ( def. ), in ( def. ), law ¹ ( def. ); 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

Even the scandalous news that her supposedly grieving mother-in-law seemed to be on the brink of remarriage did not force a peep from the precariously balanced Lady Constance.

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After the fire, his mother-in-law survived multiple strokes and needed emergency surgery.

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When Ai-jen Poo became a caregiver for her mother-in-law over the summer, she saw up close the difficulties that so many families face affording care.

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If your mother-in-law requires long-term care, what happens then?

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Huang claimed she did not remember killing her wife or attacking her mother-in-law, according to prosecutors.

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Related Words

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