relative-in-law
Definition
Noun: A person who is related to someone through marriage, rather than by blood. This term refers to the family connections created when two people marry.
Usage
The term "relative-in-law" is a general, formal, or legal term for any family member acquired through marriage. It is often used in legal documents, formal discussions, or when speaking generally about marital family ties.
Examples
- She invited all her relatives-in-law to the family reunion.
- In some cultures, the obligations to relatives-in-law are as strong as those to blood relatives.
- The form asked him to list his closest relatives-in-law.
Advanced Usage
- The term is a compound noun where "in-law" functions as a postpositive modifier (it comes after the main noun "relative"). The plural is typically formed as "relatives-in-law," following the standard rule for compound nouns where the primary noun ("relative") takes the plural form.
- It is a hypernym (a broader category) for more specific terms like "mother-in-law" or "brother-in-law."
Variants and Related Words
- In-law: A shorter, more informal term for a relative by marriage. (e.g., "He gets along well with all his in-laws.")
- Specific terms: These are far more common in everyday speech than the general "relative-in-law."
- Mother-in-law: The mother of one's spouse.
- Father-in-law: The father of one's spouse.
- Brother-in-law: The brother of one's spouse or the husband of one's sibling.
- Sister-in-law: The sister of one's spouse or the wife of one's sibling.
- Son-in-law: The husband of one's daughter.
- Daughter-in-law: The wife of one's son.
Synonyms
- Relation by marriage: A formal synonym with identical meaning.
- Affinal relative: A technical, anthropological term for a relative connected by marriage.
Antonyms
- Blood relative: A relative connected by birth or common ancestry (e.g., mother, brother, cousin).
- Consanguineous relative: A formal term for a blood relative.
Noun
-
a relative by marriage
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa