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

One person, however, played devil’s advocate and suggested that the OP take a moment to consider whether there might be any truth to the mother-in-law’s comment. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025

On October 25, the 58-year-old received a call from neighbors that his mother-in-law had been detained by Israeli soldiers while picking olives in the village of Nahalin in Bethlehem. —Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025

Harry also gave up his patronage of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League, while Meghan surrendered her patronage of the Royal National Theatre, which her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, handed down to her. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

Her mother-in-law is sleepwalking with a gun. —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mother-in-law

• avoirdupois
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada

Kids Definition

mother-in-law

noun

moth·​er-in-law

ˈmət͟h-(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ, 

ˈmət͟h-ərn-ˌlȯ

plural mothers-in-law

ˈmət͟h-ər-zən-

: the mother of one's husband or wife