plural sons-in-law
: the husband of one's daughter or son

Examples of son-in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Dolphins’ search team includes owner Steve Ross, his son-in-law Daniel Silman, president and CEO Tom Garfinkel, senior VP of football and business administration Brandon Shore and Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Troy Aikman. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026 Takeyama leaves behind his wife, his two daughters, his son, a son-in-law, and a 4-year-old grandson, according to the family. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026 In addition, there’s a good chance his sons and son-in-law will play a major role in rebuilding Gaza and Venezuela and make a lot of money doing it — raising more questions about conflicts of interest. Merrill Matthews, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026 In addition to his daughter, survivors include his son-in-law, Marty; his granddaughter, Dana, and his grandson; Adam; his great-granddaughters, Emma, Mia and Lily, and his great-grandson, Landon; and his companion, Eunice David. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for son-in-law

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of son-in-law was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Son-in-law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/son-in-law. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

son-in-law

noun
ˈsən-ən-ˌlȯ
plural sons-in-law
ˈsən-zən-
: the husband of one's daughter or son

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