sister-in-law

noun

sis·​ter-in-law ˈsi-st(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ How to pronounce sister-in-law (audio)
-tərn-ˌlȯ
plural sisters-in-law ˈsi-stər-zən-ˌlȯ How to pronounce sister-in-law (audio)
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
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His attorneys also filed a declaration from Kristina Mrzywka, his former deputy campaign manager’s sister-in-law, saying Swalwell and his wife have rented property in Livermore from her since June 2017, paying rent every month. Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026 Then her sister-in-law and her husband took in True's sister Tyra. Steve Hartman, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026 The struggles with your in-laws, the struggles with the sister-in-law. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026 Lewis, 32, was a wife and the mother of seven children, ranging from two to 12 years old, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by her sister-in-law, Carmela Leal. Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sister-in-law

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sister-in-law was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Sister-in-law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sister-in-law. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

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

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