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
Trump said he had been fully debriefed by the US negotiating team of Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law.
From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026
The negotiations represented a major test for 41-year-old Vance, who was picked by Trump to lead a US team that included special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
I never expected Ardeshir Bahrami to have so much in common with his son-in-law.
From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram
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.
