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

When four of its members (Ogoni chiefs — one of whom was my mother’s brother-in-law) were brutally killed by restive Ogoni youths, the government arrested my father and eight of his colleagues. —Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026

Robinson said her brother-in-law Gary had just walked out of the bathroom just moments before the tree fell. —Paul Burton, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

Among Xavi’s other criticisms in that La Vanguardia interview was a claim that Laporta’s former brother-in-law Alejandro Echevarria has wide powers at Barcelona, despite not having any formal role. —Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

The seventh episode finally reveals the dark secret that has bonded Kay with her detective brother-in-law Pete Marino (played by Bobby Cannavale in the present day, and Cannavale’s real-life son Jacob Lumet in the past). —Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 16 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