son-in-law

American  

[suhn-in-law] / ˈsʌn ɪnˌlɔ /

noun

plural

sons-in-law

1. the husband of one's child.

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son-in-law British  

noun

1. the husband of one's daughter

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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

He thought about a trip he took to the United Arab Emirates with the powerful son-in-law of Raúl Castro, Luis Rodríguez López-Calleja.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

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

“It’s all you can do. My mother-in-law said to me, ‘You were the perfect son-in-law.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove