cousin

noun

cous·​in ˈkə-zən 

1

a

: a child of one's uncle or aunt

b

: a relative descended from one's grandparent or more remote ancestor by two or more steps and in a different line

c

: kinsman, relative

a distant cousin

2

: one associated with or related to another : counterpart

Rural children deserve as good an education as their city cousins get.

—Benjamin Fine

3

—used as a title by a sovereign in addressing a nobleman

4

: a member of a group regarded as ethnically or culturally related

our English cousins

cousinhood

ˈkə-zən-ˌhu̇d 

noun

cousinly adjective

cousinship

ˈkə-zən-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• kin
• kinsman
• relation
• relative

Examples of cousin in a Sentence

Everyone came to the wedding, including a distant cousin no one had heard from in years.

The cricket is a cousin of the grasshopper.

hurricanes and their cousins, typhoons

Recent Examples on the Web

And when Emem’s cousin tried to speak some truth into him? —Jasmine Secrest, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the 26-year-old arrested in connection to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, and Del. Nino Mangione are cousins. —Hannah Gaskill, Baltimore Sun, 10 Dec. 2024

According to Trump's cousin and family historian John Walter, this fabrication was maintained at the request of Fred Trump to avoid upsetting Jewish friends and clients in the post-war period. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

The ending of episode 4 reveals that Valya's cousin, Harrow Harkonnen (Edward Davis), has a similar power. —EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cosin, from Anglo-French cusin, cosin, from Latin consobrinus, from com- + sobrinus second cousin, from soror sister — more at sister

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cousin

• cater-cousin
• cousin-german
• first cousin
• kissing cousin
• second cousin

Kids Definition

cousin

noun

cous·​in ˈkəz-ᵊn 

1

a

: a child of one's uncle or aunt

b

: a relative descended from a common ancestor

2

: a member of a group regarded as ethnically or culturally related

our English cousins

Biographical Definition

Cousin

biographical name

Cou·​sin kü-ˈzaⁿ 

Victor 1792–1867 French philosopher