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

cousinship

2 of 2

noun (2)

cous·​in·​ship ˈkə-zən-ˌship 

plural -s

: relationship of cousins : the fact of being a cousin : kinship

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

Family members told The Star in October 2023 that Garcia-Sanchez had been working a late-night shift with two of his cousins and six others. — Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Barbara Rainey, a Cherry resident of 76 years, said a school bus hit her cousin’s car while trying to squeeze between vehicles parked on either side. — Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

But officials are much more concerned about the fur seal’s larger cousin, the New Zealand sea lion, of which there thought to be fewer than 5,000 mature adults. — Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

The iconic Villa Savoye in Poissy—just outside Paris—was designed by the Swiss architectural expert with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and built between 1928 and 1931. — Valentina Raggi, Architectural Digest, 21 July 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