mother-in-law

noun

moth·​er-in-law ˈmə-t͟hər-ən-ˌlȯ 

ˈmət͟h-rən-,

ˈmə-t͟hərn-

plural mothers-in-law ˈmə-t͟hər-zən-ˌlȯ 

1

: the mother of one's spouse

2

archaic : stepmother

Examples of mother-in-law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Searching for a thoughtful gift for your mother-in-law who has everything? —Brie Schwartz, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2025

According to the fundraiser, which cites Nikki’s text messages, Nikki and her mother-in-law left the hospital together in a white Chevy Tahoe. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025

His mother-in-law, Shoshan Haran, was taken, along with two other relatives — Sharon Avigdori and her daughter, Noam Avigdori — who were later released in the first hostage deal. —Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025

Her disapproving future mother-in-law, novelist Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman), spared no expense in planning what promised to be the premiere wedding of the season — until a body turned up on the beach. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mother-in-law

• avoirdupois
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada

Kids Definition

mother-in-law

noun

moth·​er-in-law

ˈmət͟h-(ə-)rən-ˌlȯ,

ˈmət͟h-ərn-ˌlȯ

plural mothers-in-law

ˈmət͟h-ər-zən-

: the mother of one's husband or wife