Son in law Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈsɒn ɪnˈlɔː/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A son, usually by a previous marriage, who has married into a family, typically to a woman who is a daughter of the family and is therefore the family’s daughter-in-law.

Examples

• The couple invited their son-in-law to join them for the holiday.
• It took some getting used to having a new son-in-law join the family.

Etymology

The term “son-in-law” has its roots in the Old English words “sunu” meaning son and “in-law” meaning related by marriage.

Usage Notes

The term “son-in-law” is often used in a more informal or conversational context, and may be more commonly used in British English than in American English.

Cultural References

The term “son-in-law” has been featured in various TV shows and movies, including The Simpsons, The Goldbergs, and Married… with Children.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• To be a good son-in-law, one must get along with one’s mother-in-law.

Related Words or Phrases

• Daughter-in-law
• Family
• Marriage

Collocations

• Son-in-law and daughter-in-law
• Son-in-law joins the family

Frequency of Use

The term “son-in-law” is relatively uncommon in modern language, but is still widely used in certain contexts, such as family gatherings or social events.

Common Misspellings

• Son-in-law is often misspelled as “son in law” or “son-in-lawe.”