inlaw
B2neutral
Definition
Meaning
A relative by marriage rather than by blood.
A person who becomes a relative through marriage to one's blood relative; also used in compound terms to designate specific marital relationships.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically used in compounds (mother-in-law, brother-in-law) and occasionally as a stand-alone noun referring collectively to one's spouse's family. The term emphasizes the legal/formal nature of the relationship as opposed to biological kinship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties primarily use it in compound forms.
Connotations
Neutral in both. No particular regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[possessive pronoun] + in-law[family member] + in-lawthe + in-lawsVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The in-laws are coming.”
- “Outlaw in-laws (humorous).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; potentially in HR contexts discussing family leave policies.
Academic
Used in anthropology, sociology, and legal studies discussing kinship systems.
Everyday
Common in personal and family discussions.
Technical
Used in legal documents to specify relationships arising from marriage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He's my in-law brother. (less common, 'brother-in-law' is standard)
- We have an in-law suite in the house.
American English
- She's my in-law sister. (less common, 'sister-in-law' is standard)
- We built an in-law apartment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mother-in-law is very kind.
- I have one brother-in-law.
- We're spending Christmas with my wife's in-laws.
- He gets on very well with his father-in-law.
- Navigating relationships with your in-laws can be challenging at times.
- Her son-in-law took over the family business.
- The anthropological study examined the differing roles of in-laws across matrilineal and patrilineal societies.
- Her forthcoming thesis analyses the legal obligations towards in-laws in 19th-century property law.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'in' (through) the 'law' (marriage contract). The relationship is created by law, not birth.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY IS A LEGAL CONTRACT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'in-law' as 'в законе'. The correct concept is 'родственник по браку' or the specific compound terms like 'свекровь' (mother-in-law for husband's mother), 'тёща' (mother-in-law for wife's mother).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'in-law' without a preceding family member word when referring to a specific person (e.g., 'My in-law' instead of 'My mother-in-law'). Using plural 'in-laws' to refer to a single individual.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a standard use of 'in-law'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'In-laws' is the standard plural, used to refer collectively to your spouse's family.
Yes, but usually in the plural form 'in-laws' to refer to the group (e.g., 'My in-laws are visiting'). Using the singular 'an in-law' is less common and vague.
Yes, it is almost always hyphenated, especially in compound terms like 'mother-in-law'. The standalone form can also be hyphenated or written as one word (inlaw), but hyphenation is more standard.
'In-law' indicates a relationship formed by marriage (e.g., your spouse's parent). 'Step-' indicates a relationship formed when a parent remarries (e.g., your mother's new husband is your stepfather). They are not interchangeable.