English edit

Etymology edit

From uncle +‎ -in-law.

Noun edit

uncle-in-law (plural uncles-in-law)

  1. (nonstandard) The husband of one's uncle or aunt (parent's sibling).
    • 1871, William Lindsay, Inquiry into the Christian law, as to the relationships which bar marriage[1], page 86:
      Between uncle and aunt-in-law, or uncle's wife, you have a connection of affinity, and you have the same between aunt and uncle-in-law, or aunt's wife. [sic]
  2. (nonstandard) The uncle of one's spouse.
    1. The uncle of one's husband.
      • 2012 August 11, anonymous, Vernon Dursley, Harry Potter Wiki
        Vernon would later become an uncle-in-law to Harry's wife, Ginny and a great-uncle to Harry and Ginny's children, James Sirius Potter, Albus Severus Potter and Lily Luna Potter.
    2. The uncle of one's wife.

Usage notes edit

Both meanings commonly used for uncle-in-law are used to define a distinction between someone who is an uncle by marriage (i.e., an in-law) and someone who is an uncle by blood (i.e., a brother of one of your parents). However both meanings are included within the standard definition of uncle, and for those who use this term, and a user may be trying to convey only one or both of the meanings given here. In general, unless there is a need for specificity, the use of uncle is to be preferred.

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