noun · 5 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.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:sĭs'tər
General-American:/ˈsɪs.tɚ.ɪn.lɔ/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈsɪs.tə.ɪn.lɔː/
Canada:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S IH1 S T ER0 IH0 N L AO2
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A female relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage:
The sister of one's spouse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Though they are not twins, my sister-in-law resembles my wife in almost every way.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A female relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage:
The wife of one's sibling.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
My sister-in-law and my brother met while they were both on vacation in Jamaica.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Co-sister-in-law: The wife of one's sibling-in-law.
The wife of the sibling of one's spouse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncommon
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Co-sister-in-law: The wife of one's sibling-in-law.
The sister of the spouse of one's sibling.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncommon
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the sister of your spouse
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: in-law, relative-in-law
History
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English suster-in-lawe; equivalent to sister + -in-law.
Across languages
Translations
446 source translations are retained for this English entry.