sister-in-law

From Middle English suster-in-lawe; equivalent to sister +‎ -in-law.

• (General American) enPR: sĭs'tər, IPA^(key): /ˈsɪs.tɚ.ɪn.lɔ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪs.tə.ɪn.lɔː/
• Hyphenation: sis‧ter‧in‧law

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sister-in-law (plural sisters-in-law or (colloquial, nonstandard) sister-in-laws)

1. A female relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage:
   1. The sister of one's spouse.

      Though they are not twins, my sister-in-law resembles my wife in almost every way.

   2. The wife of one's sibling.

      My sister-in-law and my brother both met while they were on vacation in Jamaica.

2. (less common) Co-sister-in-law: The wife of one's sibling-in-law.
   1. The wife of the sibling of one's spouse.
   2. The sister of the spouse of one's sibling.

The plural sister-in-laws is occasionally seen, especially in American English, but this is considered incorrect by most sources; see, for example, .

• bahu (India)
• Bhabhi (India, Pakistan, as a title)

• Ah Soh (“elder brother’s wife”) (Singapore, slang)

• half sister-in-law
• co-sister-in-law

• brother-in-law
• daughter-in-law
• father-in-law
• mother-in-law
• son-in-law