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
My mother and mother-in-law made yeast rolls for holidays and when company came to visit.
—
Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2025
Inspired in part by his suffragist mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage, who wrote one of the first historical studies of witch trials as a system of oppression against women, Baum actually created female characters who challenged the earlier tropes about witches and brooms.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
This is far from the first time that the Duchess of Sussex has matched her late mother-in-law.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Indeed, Catherine’s dedication to supporting children in their earliest years has reminded many of her late mother-in-law’s.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mother-in-law
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Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2025
Inspired in part by his suffragist mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage, who wrote one of the first historical studies of witch trials as a system of oppression against women, Baum actually created female characters who challenged the earlier tropes about witches and brooms.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
This is far from the first time that the Duchess of Sussex has matched her late mother-in-law.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Indeed, Catherine’s dedication to supporting children in their earliest years has reminded many of her late mother-in-law’s.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 18 Nov. 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 26 Nov. 2025.
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