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

Bear 620 was raised with her cousin, Bear #690 (Bean), who won the Fat Bear Week Junior competition in 2022. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026

If Zuma is all about the social energy, Yoshida is its quiet luxury cousin. — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026

If my Arellano cousins are ready to stick it to Trump on election day, so should the Latino men who supported him two years ago. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

For now, Sanchez-Corona is trying to stay busy by cleaning rooms at his cousin’s hotel and researching the American immigration detention system. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 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