Standard Lemma guide

co-in-law

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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  • /koʊˈɪnlɔː/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A distant in-law: A relationship by marriage with a separation by three degrees (two people), compared to prototypical in-laws, where the separation is two/one. The separation may be two degrees of blood kin and one of marriage (addressing the mother of the husband of one's daughter), or one degree blood and two of marriage (addressing the brother-in-law of one's brother, or, similarly, addressing the wife of the brother of one's husband).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

Examples

  • My co-in-law and I took our granddaughter to the zoo. [= co-parent-in-law]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

* co- + -in-law The usage comes from the reciprocal relationship of the two people separating the people in question, such as two men who are each father-in-law to one of the parents of their grandchildren.