English · Family & People
in-law
/ˈɪnlɔː/
[/ˈɪnlɔː/]
relative by marriage
Intermediatenoun
Definition
A relative gained through marriage, such as a mother-in-law.
Example
My in-laws are coming to stay with us for the holidays.
My in-laws are coming to stay with us for the holidays.
Etymology
From "in" plus "law," meaning related by law rather than blood.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in compounds like "mother-in-law"; the plural adds "s" to the relation.