Meaning & use
in-law
A relative connected to someone through marriage rather than by blood, such as a spouse's parent or sibling.
See it in a sentence
My mother-in-law visits every Sunday and always brings homemade bread.
We get along well with our in-laws, so holiday dinners are relaxed and cheerful.
A note on using this word
In-law is usually combined with a family term, as in mother-in-law or brother-in-law; used alone it informally means any relative by marriage.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in-law”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.