In-Laws: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：relatives by marriage (in-laws)

in-laws 🔊

/ˈɪn lɔːz/

n. pl.

People who become your family because you married their son or daughter, like your spouse's parents, siblings, etc.

relatives by marriage 🔊

➕

/ˈrɛlətɪvz baɪ ˈmærɪdʒ/

n. pl.

People who become part of your family through your marriage to their son, daughter, or sibling, such as your spouse's parents, siblings, and their spouses.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of 'in' (indicating relation) + 'laws' (legal bonds), referring to family through marriage.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'In' + 'laws' = you are legally tied to a new set of family members through marriage.

📖 Example

We’re visiting my in-laws this weekend for a big family dinner. 🔊 We're visiting my in-laws this weekend for a big family dinner.

🔗 Collocations

in-laws' house – the home of one's spouse's family

meet the in-laws – to be introduced to one's spouse's family

in-laws visit – a visit from one's spouse's family

🔄 Synonyms

relatives by marriage (n. pl.) – Family members obtained through marriage, not blood relation.

affinal relatives (n. pl.) – A formal term for relatives connected by marriage.

marriage kin (n. pl.) – Kin group formed through marital ties.

🚫 Antonyms

blood relatives (n. pl.) – Family members related by birth, not marriage.

biological family (n. sing.) – One's family by blood or genetics.

🌱 Derivatives

in-law (n. sing.) – A single relative by marriage (e.g., mother-in-law).

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Middle English 'in lawe', meaning legally bound by marriage. Popularized in the 19th century to differentiate marital relatives from blood kin.