in-law
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A relative by marriage, not by blood.
A person's spouse's family member or a relative acquired through marriage; also used as a suffix (e.g., mother-in-law).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a suffix attached to a family term (e.g., father-in-law). In informal contexts, can be pluralized as 'in-laws' to refer collectively to one's spouse's family.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The compound form is identical.
Connotations
Neutral in both variants. Can carry connotations of familial obligation or potential conflict in informal/jocular contexts.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[family noun] + -in-lawthe + in-lawsmy/her/his/their + in-lawsVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “My in-laws are coming for the weekend.”
- “She's always arguing with her mother-in-law.”
- “He gets on famously with his in-laws.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. May appear in contexts discussing family leave policies or benefits for extended family.
Academic
Used in sociological, anthropological, or legal texts discussing kinship structures.
Everyday
Very common in personal and family contexts.
Technical
Used in legal documents (e.g., wills, immigration forms) to specify familial relationships.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She has a good in-law relationship.
- The in-law dynamics are complex.
American English
- He's dealing with some in-law issues.
- Their in-law connection is strong.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister-in-law is very kind.
- I have dinner with my in-laws.
- Her father-in-law helped her buy a car.
- We are visiting our in-laws at Christmas.
- Navigating the expectations of one's in-laws can be challenging in the early years of marriage.
- He is not just my brother-in-law but also my business partner.
- The anthropological study examined the evolving role of the son-in-law in patrilineal societies.
- Her fraught relationship with her mother-in-law became a source of constant psychological strain.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Love And Wedding (L.A.W.) brings IN new family members → IN-LAW.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY IS A LEGAL CONTRACT (highlights the created, contractual nature of the relationship versus biological ties).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian uses distinct, often gendered, words for each relationship (e.g., свёкор, тёща). 'In-law' is a compound suffix, not a single-word equivalent. Translating directly as 'в законе' is a severe error.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'in-law' as a standalone noun without the family term (e.g., 'He is my in-law' is awkward; prefer 'He is my brother-in-law').
- Incorrect pluralization: 'brothers-in-laws' (correct: brothers-in-law).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct plural form?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's grammatically possible but highly awkward and vague (e.g., 'He's my in-law'). Always specify the relationship (e.g., brother-in-law). The plural 'in-laws' is common and acceptable.
Yes, always when attached to a family term (mother-in-law). The plural 'in-laws' also retains the hyphen.
A brother-in-law is related by marriage (your spouse's brother or your sibling's husband). A stepbrother is related through the remarriage of a parent (your stepfather's or stepmother's son), with no blood relation.
Typically by their title and first name (e.g., 'Mrs. Smith' or first name depending on familiarity). There is no specific linguistic form; it's a matter of social custom.