father-in-law

[fah-ther-in-law] / ˈfɑ ðər ɪnˌlɔ /

NOUN

kinsman

Synonyms

STRONG

agnate aunt blood brother-in-law cognate connection cousin father folk folks grandparents in-laws kin kinsperson kinswoman mother mother-in-law nephew niece relation sib sibling sister-in-law stepbrother stepparent stepsister uncle

WEAK

clansperson great-grandparents

NOUN

kinswoman

Synonyms

STRONG

agnate aunt blood brother-in-law cognate connection cousin father folk folks grandparents in-laws kin kinsman kinsperson mother mother-in-law nephew niece relation sib sibling sister-in-law stepbrother stepparent stepsister uncle

WEAK

clansperson great-grandparents

NOUN

relative

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aunt cousin father folk mother niece sibling uncle

STRONG

agnate blood brother-in-law cognate connection folks grandparents in-laws kinsperson mother-in-law nephew relation sib sister-in-law stepbrother stepparent stepsister

WEAK

clansperson great-grandparents

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has visited with the president on numerous occasions and his father-in-law, Ronald Lauder, is a longtime friend of Trump.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Dean Buntrock was happily selling life insurance in Boulder, Colo., in 1956 when the death of his father-in-law thrust him into a very different business: hauling garbage in Chicago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Police filed a criminal charge against the father-in-law, though it was later dismissed.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Warsh’s father-in-law, Ronald Lauder, is a former classmate of Trump’s and a major Republican donor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

A group of women spoke with Aureliano so that he could obtain the return of their kitchen knives from his father-in-law.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

father-in-law

Example Sentences

Related Words