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relative-in-law

relative-in-law

3.5
A family member related to you by marriage, not by blood, like a mother-in-law
  • noun
  • /ˈrɛlətɪv ɪn lɔ/
translation icon : pariente político
  • 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

in-law
vsrelative-in-law
496 2.1

A person related to you by marriage, for example your spouse's parent or sibling

is the general phrase for any person related by marriage rather than blood
brother-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
153 1.6

A man in your family by marriage, for example your spouse's brother or your sister's husband

is broader, covering any person related by marriage not just this male relation
stepfather
vsrelative-in-law
145 2.0

A man who is married to your mother but is not your father

is about relations by marriage generally, not only parental marriage cases
mother-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
112 1.6

The mother of your husband or wife

is the general term for anyone related by marriage rather than by blood
son-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
85 2.1

A man who is married to your daughter

is the general phrase for any person related by marriage rather than blood
sister-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
82 1.3

A sister of your husband or wife

is broader, covering any person related by marriage not just this female relation
father-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
71 1.4

The father of your husband or wife

is the general term for anyone related by marriage rather than by blood
daughter-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
50 2.5

A woman who is married to someone's son

is the general phrase for any person related by marriage rather than blood
stepdaughter
vsrelative-in-law
34 2.6

A daughter of your husband or wife from a previous relationship

is similar as a non-blood relative but usually refers to spouse or sibling links
stepbrother
vsrelative-in-law
25 3.3

A son of your step-parent who is not related by blood

is similar in being non-blood relations but centers on spouse or sibling ties
stepsister
vsrelative-in-law
25 1.9

A girl who is related to you because your parent married her parent, not by blood

is similar in being non-blood relations but focuses on spouse or sibling connections
stepparent
vsrelative-in-law
5 3.1

A person married to your parent who is not your birth parent

is similar but names relations formed by a spouse or sibling rather than parental marriage
ma-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
  • Informal
8.9

The mother of your husband or wife

is the neutral term for any person related by marriage rather than blood
husband-in-law
vsrelative-in-law
9.9

A man who is married to your spouse's brother or sister

is the broader term covering all persons related by marriage rather than blood

Surface Forms

Morphology

relative-in-law = relative + in-law (transparent) = relative + in-law

Meaning is directly the combination of 'relative' and the modifier 'in-law': a relative by marriage.

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.