brother-in-law

noun

broth·​er-in-law ˈbrə-t͟hər-ən-ˌlȯ How to pronounce brother-in-law (audio)
ˈbrət͟h-rən-
ˈbrə-t͟hərn-
plural brothers-in-law ˈbrə-t͟hərz-ən- How to pronounce brother-in-law (audio)
1
: the brother of one's spouse
2
a
: the husband of one's sibling
b
: the husband of one's spouse's sibling

Examples of brother-in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The license also notes that Bettina's brother-in-law, real estate attorney Bradley McPherson, officiated the wedding. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026 His brother-in-law, a bachelor in his mid-fifties who lived in Ain el-Mreisseh, called him in tears. Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026 The series is directed by Zach Heinzerling, who just happens to be Meyers’ brother-in-law. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 May 2026 The breakthrough came in 1902, when one of our body’s messages, a dispatch sent from the gut to the pancreas, was discovered by the University College London physiologist Ernest Starling and his brother-in-law, William Bayliss. Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for brother-in-law

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brother-in-law was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Brother-in-law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brother-in-law. Accessed 29 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

brother-in-law

noun
broth·​er-in-law
ˈbrət͟h-(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ
ˈbrət͟h-ərn-ˌlȯ
plural brothers-in-law
ˈbrət͟h-ər-zən-
1
: the brother of one's spouse
2
: the husband of one's sibling or of one's spouse's sibling

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