cousin

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

cousinhood

2 of 2

noun (2)

cous·​in·​hood ˈkə-zən-ˌhu̇d 

plural -s

1

: kinsfolk, kinsmen

2

: the relationship of cousins : the condition of being a cousin

Synonyms of cousin

Noun (1)

• relative
• relation
• family
• kin
• kinsman

Examples of cousin in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

This source material is about two isolated sisters with a bleak family history, who are loathed by their neighbors and must contend with the arrival of a mysterious cousin. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

The groom, who is close enough in age to feel more like a cousin, sends them on a quick errand that turns into a string of misadventures, leaving the trio at risk of missing the wedding altogether. — Essie Assibu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026

Achou Taibo’s cousin Musubao, who had earlier lost one sister to Ebola, said her landlord forced her family out after health workers disinfected their home, claiming the operation had brought evil spirits into it. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

The two attended Starksville High School in MIssissippi together, hail from the same hometown and, most importantly, are cousins. — Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (1)

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