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
Stephanie now cares for Emily's son Nicky while Emily lives in secret in Rome, where her crime-boss mother-in-law Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci) hands her an envelope with a simple favor of her own.
—
Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 3 May 2025
The clip has prompted over 21,500 comments, many from people reminiscing over their own sweet memories of their mothers-in-law.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Six months after a vehicle smashed through the front window of the Highland Park tea spot and injured Corgan’s mother-in-law, the shop revealed that it had been struck again.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 May 2025
In the sprawling tent camp outside the southern city of Khan Yunis, Mariam al-Najjar and her mother-in-law emptied four cans of peas and carrots into a pot and boiled them over a wood fire.
—Wafaa Shurafa and Lee Keath, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mother-in-law
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.
Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 3 May 2025
The clip has prompted over 21,500 comments, many from people reminiscing over their own sweet memories of their mothers-in-law.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Six months after a vehicle smashed through the front window of the Highland Park tea spot and injured Corgan’s mother-in-law, the shop revealed that it had been struck again.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 May 2025
In the sprawling tent camp outside the southern city of Khan Yunis, Mariam al-Najjar and her mother-in-law emptied four cans of peas and carrots into a pot and boiled them over a wood fire.
—Wafaa Shurafa and Lee Keath, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 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 10 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share