mother-in-law

noun

moth·​er-in-law ˈmə-t͟hər-ən-ˌlȯ 

ˈmət͟h-rən-, 

ˈmə-t͟hərn-

plural mothers-in-law ˈmə-t͟hər-zən-ˌlȯ 

1

: the mother of one's spouse

2

archaic : stepmother

Examples of mother-in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The villager, whose mother-in-law was killed in the airstrike, said that people fled to a nearby community after cremating bodies of the victims. — Grant Peck, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

During Susan Clancy's cross examination, jurors heard messages between Lindsey Clancy and her former mother-in-law, with the former expressing concerns about the medications she had been prescribed. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

The defense has since called Clancy’s mother, sister and former mother-in-law to the witness stand, as well as Condie. — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

Susan Clancy said that Lindsay was open with her about struggling and asked for her mother-in-law’s support. — Leah Willingham, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mother-in-law

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

Kids Definition

mother-in-law

noun

moth·​er-in-law

ˈmət͟h-(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ, 

ˈmət͟h-ərn-ˌlȯ

plural mothers-in-law

ˈmət͟h-ər-zən-

: the mother of one's husband or wife