: a relative by marriage

Examples of in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An occasional and cordial relationship with these in-laws might be best for everyone. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023 After all, my husband and I had managed to find a modest weekend house in New York’s booming Catskills region in 2019 and then fully furnish the interior on a budget in the 16 weekends between the closing date and my in-laws’ arrival for Thanksgiving. Leslie Yazel, wsj.com, 11 Sep. 2023 My in-laws constantly invite themselves to stay at our home. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 9 Sep. 2023 Gwen Bainbridge, meanwhile, has traveled a lonely road since her husband was killed in World War II and her upper-class in-laws had the grieving widow declared insane. Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2023 Her children were baptized there, and her in-laws, who are in their late 80s, were married there too. Abbey McDonald and Ardeshir Tabrizian, oregonlive, 31 Aug. 2023 In fact, Donny says the entire Osmond family got together for a season 2 finale watch party at Chris’ in-laws’ house. Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2023 More from Carolyn Hax From the archive: Dysfunctional in-laws want to join her side of family’s vacation Girlfriend flubbed birthday celebration for boyfriend Lovelorn ex-boyfriend needs to take different tack What to call the grandparents? Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2023 Fifteen years later, everybody still comes: immediate family and extended family, in-laws and cousins of cousins, our second-grade teachers, even the occasional boyfriend who's here one year and not the next. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in-law.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

mother-in-law, etc.

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in-law was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near in-law

Cite this Entry

“In-law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in-law. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

in-law

noun
ˈin-ˌlȯ
: a relative by marriage

More from Merriam-Webster on in-law

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