cousin

noun

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

Examples of cousin in a Sentence

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.
For the trucker who’s wiring part of his paycheck to his parents in Mexico, the nurse who’s supporting her siblings in Nigeria, or the Afghan interpreter who’s helping his cousins resettle, the tax is a penalty on one of the purest expressions of human freedom: ... Brayden Myers, National Review, 18 July 2025 The investigation led by the FBI revealed that Brillante was also sending similar threatening messages to another cousin and her husband in Texas. Jay Weaver july 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2025 Collins will play Louis, White Sun’s good-natured and levelheaded cousin. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 July 2025 In the photo, Rob was seen with his arm over Kris' shoulder, with Dream posing in front of him and beside her cousins Psalm, Chicago, True and Tatum, and aunts, Kim and Khloé. Hannah Sacks, People.com, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cousin

Word History

Etymology

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cousin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cousin. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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

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