son-in-law
Americannoun
plural
sons-in-lawnoun
Etymology
Origin of son-in-law
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sone in lawe; 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.
Pace is survived by daughters Shawn Pace Mitchell and Julia Pace Mitchell, a grandson, and a son-in-law.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026
Thrive was founded by Josh Kushner, the brother of President Trump’s son-in-law Jared.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026
Iranian media also reported the deaths of his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.
From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026
In 2009, her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Barry Oglesby, gave West a Garmin GPS device to use in the Volvo car she shared with her husband, Ira West.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026
Alexandra had failed in an attempt to overthrow her son-in-law.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
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.
