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

DeepMind's model, as well as the European model's AI cousin, provided forecasters at the NHC with an unusually high degree of confidence that Hurricane Melissa would rapidly intensify into a major Category 5 hurricane before dealing a devastating blow to Jamaica. —ABC News, 6 Dec. 2025

Getting a peek at some classic characters was a highlight for cousins Sofia, Foster and Piper, too. —Marissa Armas, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025

Messerly is survived by his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

She was killed while celebrating her cousin’s second birthday at the Lucile Avenue venue space. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 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