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

By contrast, her brood of uncles and cousins, who confusingly resemble the parallel hippie gang in the 1983 sequences, never acquire definition as individual characters. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 21 May 2025

Meanwhile, Keisha’s cousins Tiffany (Paigion Walker) and Brittany (Adriyan Rae), who wore lots of Fenty pieces, cropped jackets, and mini skirts, are the more fashion-forward and trendy out of the central cast. —Juliana Ukiomogbe, Essence, 21 May 2025

Hinshelwood’s cousin, Harry Howell, was just a few yards away, in the penalty area, when the midfielder converted Matt O’Riley’s cross in the 85th minute to snatch a 3-2 victory against the Premier League champions. —Andy Naylor, New York Times, 21 May 2025

Jackson says Burgin, who was allegedly upset by Cole's filing, tried to hit her and also threatened that his cousin, Mark Burgin, would kill Cole in retaliation. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 May 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