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

My poor father-in-law is sitting in bed and can't even get out, can't even hold a glass of water or feed himself or can't even talk. —Christina Dugan Ramirez , Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Since leaving the Trump Administration, Kushner has described himself as an informal foreign-policy adviser to his father-in-law and to members of Congress. —David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025

But Zeigler later killed Mays by beating him over the head with the steel crank, according to prosecutors Specks of his father-in-law’s blood were found on Zeigler’s shoes, according to evidence presented at the trial. —Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025

Recent reports indicated Pitt had reached out to former father-in-law Jon Voight to attempt to get back in his kid’s good graces. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Aug. 2025

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