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 of cousin

• relative
• relation
• family
• kin
• kinsman

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

Adventures Beyond This World centers on the journey of Ryusukue (voiced by Zach Aguilar in the English dub), a junior high school student living in Tokyo who visits his rural-dwelling teenage cousin Tomomi (voiced by Ren Holly Liu in the English dub) for summer vacation. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Nov. 2025

Just like her cousins, Malti also makes a brief cameo in A Very Jonas Christmas Movie. —Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

After some blowback, Meech claimed the woman was his cousin, which Walker has consistently pushed back on. —Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Nov. 2025

In a flashback 200 years ago, a young Malcolm and his cousin capture a mysterious pregnant woman who was trespassing on their land. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for cousin

• dozen

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