in-law
/'inlɔ:/
Definition
- Noun:
- A relative by marriage: An "in-law" is a person who becomes a relative through marriage, not by blood. This term specifically refers to the family members of one's spouse.
Usage
- The term "in-law" is almost always used in compound forms with a preceding word indicating the specific relationship (e.g., mother-in-law, brother-in-law). It is rarely used alone as a standalone noun.
- When referring to this group of relatives collectively, the plural form "in-laws" is commonly used.
Examples
- Noun:
- My mother-in-law is visiting us this weekend. (This specifies the speaker's spouse's mother.)
- We are having dinner with the in-laws on Sunday. (This refers collectively to the spouse's family members.)
- He gets along very well with his brother-in-law. (This specifies the speaker's sibling's spouse or spouse's sibling.)
Advanced Usage
- "The in-laws": A common, informal collective term for one's spouse's family.
- We're spending the holidays with the in-laws.
- The relationship described by an "in-law" term is reciprocal. For example, if Person A is Person B's father-in-law, then Person B is also Person A's son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
Variants and Related Words
- Mother-in-law (n): The mother of one's spouse.
- Father-in-law (n): The father of one's spouse.
- Brother-in-law (n): The brother of one's spouse or the husband of one's sibling.
- Sister-in-law (n): The sister of one's spouse or the wife of one's sibling.
- Son-in-law (n): The husband of one's daughter.
- Daughter-in-law (n): The wife of one's son.
- Parents-in-law (n): The parents of one's spouse.
Synonyms
- Relative by marriage: A more formal term for an in-law.
- Affinal relative: A technical, anthropological term for a relative connected by marriage.
Notes
- The term "in-law" itself does not specify gender or the exact nature of the relationship; it is a relational suffix. The core meaning is established by the primary noun it attaches to (mother, brother, etc.).
- In some legal and formal contexts, "in-law" relationships are distinguished from "blood" or "consanguineous" relationships.
Noun
-
a relative by marriage
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