father-in-law

noun

ˈfä-t͟hə-rən-ˌlȯ 

-t͟hərn-ˌlȯ

plural fathers-in-law ˈfä-t͟hər-zən-ˌlȯ 

1

: the father of one's spouse

2

archaic : stepfather

Examples of father-in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Flynn worked for his father-in-law’s flooring and furnishing business and made about $200,000 a year, Ashley’s sister testified. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Like her father-in-law King Charles, Kate is an avid gardener. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Spatola was a college basketball analyst for ESPN and SiriusXM for over a decade after playing college basketball at Army, where his father-in-law’s coaching career began. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2026

As the Chiefs played the Detroit Lions, Swift hung out with future father-in-law, Ed Kelce, and WNBA star, Caitlin Clark. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for father-in-law

• avoirdupois
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada

Kids Definition

father-in-law

noun

fa·​ther-in-law

ˈfät͟h-(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ, 

ˈfȧt͟h-, 

-ərn-ˌlȯ

plural fathers-in-law

ˈfät͟h-ər-zən-, 

ˈfȧt͟h-

: the father of one's husband or wife