View synonyms for

sister-in-law

[ sis-ter-in-law ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural sisters-in-law.

the sister of one's spouse.
the wife of one's brother or sister.
the wife of one's spouse's sister or brother.

sister-in-law

noun

the sister of one's husband or wife
the wife of one's brother

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Word History and Origins

Origin of sister-in-law¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English syster in lawe; sister, in, law ¹; from Middle English in-lawe “in law,” i.e., “a person within the regulation and protection of the law,” based on the prohibition by Roman civil law and, later, Christian canon law, of marriages within four degrees of consanguinity, i.e., up to and including first cousins

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Earlier this week, the girl's father had also filed for a temporary transfer of legal authority, which according to state law would give his sister-in-law - also a US citizen - custody of the children.

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A shattered lilac plate from my sister-in-law can be glued back together.

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He cried when he saw the street where his sister-in-law, Kylee, had hoped to buy a home for her family was destroyed.

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Ivanka Trump, President Trump’s oldest daughter and Vanessa Trump’s former sister-in-law, commented on Woods’ post, “So happy for you both,” along with two smiling faces with heart emojis.

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We had met Mr Abdel Habib at the hospital morgue the previous day, where he was picking up the bodies of his brother and sister-in-law.

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Related Words

sisterhood sisterly

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