son-in-law
Americannoun
plural
sons-in-lawnoun
Etymology
Origin of son-in-law
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sone in lawe; see origin at son, 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.
Vance would be joined at the talks for the second time with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, officials said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Besides Vance, Trump sent his usual emissaries, fellow real-estate tycoon Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026
Still, Vice President JD Vance is due to lead the US delegation on Saturday, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
And spokeswoman Anna Kelly confirmed that Vance had already been collaborating with special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom will be with him in Pakistan.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
As the daughter and son-in-law of Marie Curie, Irene and Frederic Joliot-Curie were members of physics royalty.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
