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

Will's brother-in-law, Garren Givens, served as co-officiant alongside Rabbi Hanniel Levenson. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026

Rob Misleh, Spencer's brother-in-law, told People the couple's 1-year-old child was likely in a crib when the shooting happened. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Pierre was even shown giving his brother-in-law a cooking lesson. —Natalie Morales, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

The family finally released the sketch on America’s Most Wanted, and shortly after, a man called Ed Smart’s brother, Tom Smart, to say that the man in the sketch could be his brother-in-law, Brian David Mitchell. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 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