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• cousin
  cousin

  noun

  the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.
• Cousin
  Cousin

  noun

  Victor 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer: founder of the method of eclecticism in French philosophy.

cousin

¹ American  

[kuhz-uhn] / ˈkʌz ən /

noun

• cousins
  plural

1. Also called full cousin.  Also called first cousin.  the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.

2. one related by descent in a diverging line from a known common ancestor, as from one's grandparent or from one's father's or mother's sister or brother.

3. a kinsman or kinswoman; relative.

4. a person or thing related to another by similar natures, languages, geographical proximity, etc..

   Our Canadian cousins are a friendly people.

5. Slang. a gullible, innocent person who is easily duped or taken advantage of.

6. a term of address used by a sovereign in speaking, writing, or referring to another sovereign or a high-ranking noble.

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Cousin ² American  

[koo-zan] / kuˈzɛ̃ /

noun

1. Victor 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer: founder of the method of eclecticism in French philosophy.

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cousin ¹ British  

/ ˈkʌzən /

noun

1. Also called: first cousin.   cousin-german.   full cousin.  the child of one's aunt or uncle

2. a relative who has descended from one of one's common ancestors. A person's second cousin is the child of one of his parents' first cousins. A person's third cousin is the child of one of his parents' second cousins. A first cousin once removed (or loosely second cousin ) is the child of one's first cousin

3. a member of a group related by race, ancestry, interests, etc

   our Australian cousins

4. a title used by a sovereign when addressing another sovereign or a nobleman

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Cousin ² British  

/ kuzɛ̃ /

noun

1. Victor (viktɔr). 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer

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cousin Idioms  

1. see country cousin; first cousin; kissing cousins; second cousin.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cousinage
  noun
• cousinhood
  noun
• cousinship
  noun
• cousinly
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cousins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cousin

1250–1300; Middle English cosin < Anglo-French co ( u ) sin, Old French cosin < Latin consōbrīnus cousin (properly, son of one's mother's sister), equivalent to con- con- + sōbrīnus second cousin (presumably originally “pertaining to the sister”) < *swesrīnos, equivalent to *swesr-, gradational variant of *swesōr (> soror sister ) + *-īnos -ine ¹; for -sr- > -br- cf. December

Explanation

If Aunt Sally has a kid, that kid is your cousin, and if Aunt Sally's kid has a kid, and you have a kid too, then your kid and Sally's kid's kid are second cousins. A cousin is a relative that's farther from you than an immediate relation like your brother or sister, usually the child of your aunt or uncle. Depending on how many children are born into your family, you might have tons of cousins you've never even met, like your distant cousin Johnny who went wild up in Alaska. We also use cousin to describe a kind of family resemblance between things, like the way barbecue sauce is the cousin of ketchup.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cousin Cousin cousins

Rosales restores Ever’s multi-dimensionality, reminding the world that her cousin loved mathematics and philosophy, that he never missed a day of high school, and that he was a prankster, lover, father and brother.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Bean impressively captures Wanda’s determined grind, but it’s Asante Blackk’s delicate combination of anxiety and ambition as her cousin Lamar, a musical prodigy, that locked me in to the first episode.

From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026

"My cousin who isn't allergic to anything started developing allergies. My husband is the first one who had itchy eyes and throat."

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

The big problem is the Segal issue—which is named for a cousin of mine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

But here I am, with a mailbox that Jonah can no longer bear to be in the same house with, a cousin who’s not speaking to me, and an overuse injury that’s my own fault.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Lead lecturer Hugo Cousin, 25, says the course is designed to bridge the gap between a hobby and a professional career.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

Catsimatidis even hired one of WABC’s legendary disc jockeys, Bruce Morrow — known to millions of baby boomers as Cousin Brucie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

The research focused on the Seychelles warbler, a small songbird that lives on Cousin Island in the Seychelles.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026

“Pre-Thanksgiving-Dinner Cousin Walk,” one Instagram ad for Jif peanut butter read last year over a picture of a guy holding open his jacket with a Jif squeeze pouch tucked inside.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

Downstairs, Dicey wrote a hasty note to James, asking him to take charge until she got back, telling him where she was going, saying she was sorry but he would have to tell Cousin Eunice.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

When I looked into the crowd, I saw my cousins and best friend I’d played with as a child, all of whom had driven in from Burbank, Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Before the board hired Otterman, two fourth-generation second cousins had led Lodge for nearly 50 years despite a relationship marked by what Daniel called “productive friction.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Like many Zimbabweans facing bleak economic prospects at home, the cousins were chasing better opportunities, in a story echoed across the continent.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

He said two brothers and two of their cousins were among those killed.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

“I wish I had cousins here,” I tell Teresita.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• relative