Skip to main content
sister-in-law

sister-in-law

82 1.3
A sister of your husband or wife
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪstər ɪn lɔː/
translation icon : cuñada
  • I love my husband, but Doctor Phil, my sister-in-law, is new to the family.
  • sister-in-law's house

Because we've had Esther, so my sister-in-law, you might remember her as NCIX Esther.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • My late sister-in-law's name is Butler.

  • So here's a little rocker right here that my brother and sister-in-law gave us.

  • Since then, she has become my sister-in-law, soon to be my partner in crime and one of my best friends.

  • OK, Please welcome my lovely sister-in-law Amy to the stage.

  • OK, my sister-in-law and best friend are sisters.

  • Lunch with your brother and sister-in-law.

  • My sister-in-law, Karen, sent this to me.

  • I see my sister-in-law's been entertaining you.

  • Hi, my sister-in-law is visiting from Australia and I'm kidding, she's cool.

  • I invited my sister-in-law over for dinner to catch up and share stories.

Synonyms

in-law
vssister-in-law
496 2.1

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

refers only to a female sibling of the person you married
relative-in-law
vssister-in-law
3.5

A family member related to you by marriage, not by blood, like a mother-in-law

is narrower, meaning only a female sibling of the person you married

Antonyms

153 1.6

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

Surface Forms

sister-in-law singular

Morphology

sister-in-law = sister + in-law (semi-transparent) = in + sister + law

The structure clearly suggests a female relative by marriage, but it does not uniquely identify this specific kinship relation without prior knowledge of the fixed term.

Etymology

The word sister-in-law comes from sister and in- + law, where in- + law means 'by law' or 'by marriage'. So a sister-in-law is a sister you have by marriage, for example your husband's or wife's sister, not a sister by blood.