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kissing cousin

noun

Definition of kissing cousin 

1 : one that is closely related in kind to something else

2 : a person and especially a relative whom one knows well enough to kiss more or less formally upon meeting

Examples of kissing cousin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 McConnell is pushing for this legislative change to remove a barrier inhibiting the versatile plant some call marijuana's kissing cousin. — Beth Warren, The Courier-Journal, "Hemp brings jobs and more than $16.7 million in sales to Kentucky," 1 May 2018 The organizers walked a razor's edge with scheduling, especially between the Flora and Fauna stages, which were kissing cousins a few hundred yards from each other. — Andrew Dansby, Houston Chronicle, "Final thoughts on Houston's In Bloom festival," 26 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kissing cousin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of kissing cousin

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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The first known use of kissing cousin was in 1941

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More Definitions for kissing cousin

kissing cousin

noun

English Language Learners Definition of kissing cousin

: a person and especially a relative who you know well enough to kiss in a formal way when you meet

See the full definition for kissing cousin in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on kissing cousin

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with kissing cousin

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