sister-in-law
/'sistərinlɔ:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The sister of one's spouse: This is the primary meaning, referring to the sister of the person you are married to.
- The wife of one's sibling: This meaning refers to the woman who is married to your brother.
- The wife of one's spouse's sibling: This meaning refers to the woman married to the brother or sister of your husband or wife.
Usage
- The term "sister-in-law" is used to describe a family relationship created through marriage, not by blood.
- The plural form is sisters-in-law.
Examples
- As the sister of one's spouse:
- My wife's younger sister is my sister-in-law.
- He gets along very well with his sister-in-law.
- As the wife of one's sibling:
- My brother's wife is my sister-in-law.
- She welcomed her new sister-in-law into the family.
- As the wife of one's spouse's sibling:
- My husband's brother is married; his wife is also my sister-in-law.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used in legal and formal contexts to denote this specific familial relationship.
- In some cultures, the term may carry specific social roles or expectations.
Variants and Related Words
- Brother-in-law (n): the brother of one's spouse or the husband of one's sibling.
- Her brother-in-law helped them move.
- Mother-in-law (n): the mother of one's spouse.
- Father-in-law (n): the father of one's spouse.
- In-law (n): a relative by marriage (used generally or in the plural, e.g., "the in-laws").
Synonyms
- Relative by marriage: A more general term for any family member connected through marriage.
- Kin by marriage: A formal term for relatives acquired through a marital union.
Related Phrases
- To be like a sister-in-law: Used to describe a close, sisterly relationship with someone who is not a blood relative.
- Even though we're not related, she's like a sister-in-law to me.