mother-in-law
noun
moth·er-in-law
ˈmə-t͟hər-ən-ˌlȯ 
ˈmət͟h-rən-,
ˈmə-t͟hərn-
plural mothers-in-law
ˈmə-t͟hər-zən-ˌlȯ
1
: the mother of one's spouse
2
archaic
: stepmother
Examples of mother-in-law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her mother-in-law then came into the room that OP was in and shared the news.
—
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Her new one-woman play tells the true story of her mother-in-law, the late Muscogee leader Jean Hill Chaudhuri, who died in 1997.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
After the bride opted not to wear one of her mother-in-law’s designs, relations reportedly chilled, and now the situation has gotten even frostier, with Brooklyn unfollowing the InterMiami co-owner and ex pop star on social media.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
His mother-in-law was visiting at the time of the shooting, according to the Daily Mail.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mother-in-law
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Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Her new one-woman play tells the true story of her mother-in-law, the late Muscogee leader Jean Hill Chaudhuri, who died in 1997.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
After the bride opted not to wear one of her mother-in-law’s designs, relations reportedly chilled, and now the situation has gotten even frostier, with Brooklyn unfollowing the InterMiami co-owner and ex pop star on social media.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
His mother-in-law was visiting at the time of the shooting, according to the Daily Mail.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mother-in-law
Cite this Entry
“Mother-in-law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mother-in-law. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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