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
But the fire was much closer, consuming their garage and minutes away from reaching the main house, where Dalis, his wife and mother-in-law live.
—
Michele Gile, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Homeowner Tom Dalis, his wife, his 90-year-old mother-in-law and Fillmore were all inside at the time.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
The idea came from his mother-in-law, hence the catchy name.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
There’s something for everyone on this list—not just mothers, but mothers-in-law, grandmothers, and anyone who has had a hand (and heart) in bringing you up.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mother-in-law
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Michele Gile, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Homeowner Tom Dalis, his wife, his 90-year-old mother-in-law and Fillmore were all inside at the time.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
The idea came from his mother-in-law, hence the catchy name.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
There’s something for everyone on this list—not just mothers, but mothers-in-law, grandmothers, and anyone who has had a hand (and heart) in bringing you up.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026
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 26 Apr. 2026.
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