Brother-in-law
noun
A brother-in-law is a relative that a person gains through marriage, and this relationship can be established in two main ways:
- The Brother of One's Spouse: This is when the individual is the brother of the person's spouse. For example, if you are married and your spouse has a brother, he is your brother-in-law.
- The Husband of One's Sibling: This is when a person's sibling (either brother or sister) is married, and their spouse becomes the brother-in-law. For example, if your sister is married, her husband is your brother-in-law.
The nature of the relationship with a brother-in-law can vary greatly from being very close and friendly to simply a formal family connection.
Example
- My brother-in-law and I work at the same company but in different departments.
- My brother-in-law is an excellent cook and always prepares the barbecue.
- We went hiking with my sister and her husband, my brother-in-law, yesterday.