: a relative by marriage

Examples of in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The jury has been shown transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his wife’s parents that show a heated, ongoing dispute over a $1.3 million loan from his in-laws to help fund his wife’s fledgling horse ranch business. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2025 Advice about how to achieve this comes at you from every corner: playground moms, media, your in-laws. Francine Russo, Scientific American, 24 June 2025 The duo were the in-law foils to Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner, the parents of Stiller’s wife (Teri Polo). Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 23 June 2025 In messages to Facebook friends read out in court, Patterson expressed her frustration that her in-laws would not get involved in her dispute with Simon over child support. Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for in-law

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In-law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in-law. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

in-law

noun
ˈin-ˌlȯ
: a relative by marriage

More from Merriam-Webster on in-law

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!