sister-in-law

noun

sis·​ter-in-law ˈsi-st(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ 

-tərn-ˌlȯ

plural sisters-in-law ˈsi-stər-zən-ˌlȯ 

1

: the sister of one's spouse

2

a

: the wife of one's sibling

b

: the wife of one's spouse's sibling

Examples of sister-in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Manzo was also involved in an interesting family dynamic with fellow cast members Dina Manzo, who was both her sister-in-law and sister at the time, and Jacqueline Laurita, her sister-in-law. —Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

Emily Archambault, 29, and her sister-in-law Taylor Martin, 29, in La Porte, Indiana, will be putting out pasta and sauce, peanut butter and jelly, cereal and other foods, along with diapers and wipes on Halloween. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025

Veronica Beard, the contemporary apparel firm appropriately named after two highly fashionable sisters-in-law, has been on the fast track since launching in 2010. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025

Joanne can tell there’s trouble when the woman who may one day become her sister-in-law shows up to a double date with bangs. —Judy Berman, Time, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sister-in-law

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

Kids Definition

sister-in-law

noun

sis·​ter-in-law

ˈsis-t(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ,

-tərn-ˌlȯ

plural sisters-in-law

-tər-zən-

1

: the sister of one's spouse

2

a

: the wife of one's sibling

b

: the wife of one's spouse's sibling