cousin

1 of 2

noun (1)

cous·​in ˈkə-zən How to pronounce cousin (audio)
Synonyms of cousinnext
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 How to pronounce cousin (audio)
noun
cousinly adjective
cousinship
ˈkə-zən-ˌship How to pronounce cousin (audio)
noun

cousinship

2 of 2

noun (2)

cous·​in·​ship ˈkə-zən-ˌship How to pronounce cousinship (audio)
plural -s
: relationship of cousins : the fact of being a cousin : kinship

Synonyms of cousin

Relevance

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Some cousins took him and his older brother ice skating for the first time, providing the first step on the path to a professional career. — Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026 Jacinto found out the truth about his work after becoming suspicious of some of the girls who would accompany his cousins to their home. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Over the course of a few days, this bashful teen, always armed with her camcorder and far less free-spirited than her cousins, will be beset by her father’s feuding family. — Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Dying was such a momentous thing to do, and while Matthew, their dear friend, their cousin-brother, had been off doing it, the women had occupied themselves with such frivolities as cleaning and heat. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cousin

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cousin was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing cousin

Rhymes for cousin

See All Rhymes for cousin

Browse Nearby Words

cousen
cousin
Cousin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cousin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cousin. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cousin

noun
cous·​in ˈkəz-ᵊn How to pronounce cousin (audio)
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 How to pronounce Cousin (audio)
Victor 1792–1867 French philosopher

More from Merriam-Webster on cousin

Nglish: Translation of cousin for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cousin

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