relative-in-law
1
3.5
- noun
- /ˈrɛlətɪv ɪn lɔ/
- In true third-world nepotist style, he has been ruling for several years by proxy through a menagerie of siblings, cousins, and relatives-in-law.
Examples
-
My sister's husband is my relative-in-law, and we often spend holidays together.
-
At the reunion, I met some of my wife's relatives-in-law for the first time.
-
He feels close to his relative-in-law, who always supports him during family gatherings.
Synonyms
653
2.1
A person related to you by marriage, for example your spouse's parent or sibling
153
1.6
A man in your family by marriage, for example your spouse's brother or your sister's husband
137
2.0
A man who is married to your mother but is not your father
126
1.6
The mother of your husband or wife
105
2.1
A man who is married to your daughter
96
1.3
A sister of your husband or wife
74
1.4
The father of your husband or wife
55
2.5
A woman who is married to someone's son
27
2.6
A daughter of your husband or wife from a previous relationship
22
3.3
A son of your step-parent who is not related by blood
19
1.9
A girl who is related to you because your parent married her parent, not by blood
6
9.9
A man who is married to your spouse's brother or sister
4
3.1
A person married to your parent who is not your birth parent
1
8.9
The mother of your husband or wife
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Relative-in-law comes from the words relative and the parts in- + law, where in- means 'in' or 'inside' and law means an 'official rule'. So a relative-in-law is someone who becomes family 'by marriage' rather than by blood, like a mother-in-law or brother-in-law.