brother-in-law

noun

broth·​er-in-law ˈbrə-t͟hər-ən-ˌlȯ 

ˈbrət͟h-rən-, 

ˈbrə-t͟hərn-

plural brothers-in-law ˈbrə-t͟hərz-ən- 

1

: the brother of one's spouse

2

a

: the husband of one's sibling

b

: the husband of one's spouse's sibling

Examples of brother-in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

She is survived by her sisters, a brother-in-law, a niece and nephews, and by her friend and writing partner Wooten. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026

Jones is survived by sisters Ellen and Laura, brother-in-law Jim McCarthy, niece Margaret McCarthy and nephews Tommy McCarthy, Todd Hyso and Paul Hyso, along with grand-nieces and cousins. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026

No one took better care of my mom than my sister and brother-in-law. —Ethan Beck The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026

In talking to Kotb, Guthrie defended her sister and brother-in-law, as well as her brother, Cameron Guthrie, according to Page Six. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for brother-in-law

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

Kids Definition

brother-in-law

noun

broth·​er-in-law

ˈbrət͟h-(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ, 

ˈbrət͟h-ərn-ˌlȯ

plural brothers-in-law

ˈbrət͟h-ər-zən-

1

: the brother of one's spouse

2

: the husband of one's sibling or of one's spouse's sibling