brother-in-law: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; common in everyday use.
Quick answer
What does “brother-in-law” mean?
A man who is the brother of one's spouse, or the husband of one's sibling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man who is the brother of one's spouse, or the husband of one's sibling.
A male relative by marriage, including in some legal or cultural contexts the husband of one's spouse's sibling (i.e., co-brother-in-law).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and its pluralization are identical in both varieties. No lexical difference.
Connotations
Neutral familial term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “brother-in-law” in a Sentence
[Subject] + [have/be] + [possessive determiner] + brother-in-law.[Subject] + [is/are] + [NP]'s brother-in-law.brother-in-law + [of] + [NP].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brother-in-law” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- brother-in-law relationship
American English
- brother-in-law duties
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions of family-owned businesses or nepotism policies.
Academic
Used in sociological, anthropological, or legal texts discussing kinship structures.
Everyday
Very common in family discussions, introductions, and social planning.
Technical
Used in legal documents concerning inheritance, next of kin, or family law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brother-in-law”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brother-in-law”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brother-in-law”
- Using the plural *brother-in-laws (incorrect) instead of brothers-in-law.
- Confusing with 'stepbrother' (related by parent's remarriage, not by one's own marriage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, he is your brother-in-law. He is married to your spouse's sibling.
A brother-in-law is related by marriage (you or your sibling married into the family). A stepbrother is related through the remarriage of a parent (no blood relation, but a parent is married to his parent).
Informally, yes (e.g., 'He's my in-law'), but 'brother-in-law' is more precise and common.
Yes, the standard spelling is with hyphens: brother-in-law.
A man who is the brother of one's spouse, or the husband of one's sibling.
Brother-in-law is usually neutral to formal; common in everyday use. in register.
Brother-in-law: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌðər ɪn lɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌðər ɪn lɔː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have/get a brother-in-law”
- “All my brothers-in-law”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'brother' + 'in-law' = the law (marriage) makes him a brother.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A LEGAL BOND (creating new family ties).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct plural form?