Dictionary.com

cousin

[ kuhz-uhn ]
/ ˈkʌz ən /
Save This Word!

noun
Also called first cousin, full cousin . the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.See also second cousin, removed (def. 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.
a kinsman or kinswoman; relative.
a person or thing related to another by similar natures, languages, geographical proximity, etc.: Our Canadian cousins are a friendly people.
Slang. a gullible, innocent person who is easily duped or taken advantage of.
a term of address used by a sovereign in speaking, writing, or referring to another sovereign or a high-ranking noble.

VIDEO FOR COUSIN

Cousin Relationships Explained: First, Second, & Once Removed

Family is complex. Especially when it comes to figuring out what the difference is between "first cousins," "second cousins," and those that are "once removed"!

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

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 (>sororsister) + *-īnos-ine1; for -sr->-br-cf. December

OTHER WORDS FROM cousin

cous·in·age, cous·in·hood, cous·in·ship, noun

Other definitions for cousin (2 of 2)

Cousin
[ koo-zan ]
/ kuˈzɛ̃ /

noun
Vic·tor [veek-tawr], /vikˈtɔr/, 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer: founder of the method of eclecticism in French philosophy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cousin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cousin (1 of 2)

cousin
/ (ˈkʌzən) /

noun
Also called: first cousin, cousin-german, full cousin the child of one's aunt or uncle
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
a member of a group related by race, ancestry, interests, etcour Australian cousins
a title used by a sovereign when addressing another sovereign or a nobleman

Derived forms of cousin

cousinhood or cousinship, nouncousinly, adjective, adverb

Word Origin for cousin

C13: from Old French cosin, from Latin consōbrīnus cousin, from sōbrīnus cousin on the mother's side; related to soror sister

British Dictionary definitions for cousin (2 of 2)

Cousin
/ (French kuzɛ̃) /

noun
Victor (viktɔr). 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with cousin

cousin

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
FEEDBACK