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In ancient times, a cohort was a military unit, one of ten divisions in a Roman legion. The term passed into English in the 15th century, when it was used in translations and writings about Roman history. Once cohort became established in our language, its meaning was extended, first to refer to any body of troops, then to any group of individuals with something in common, and later to a single companion. Some usage commentators have objected to this last sense because it can be hard to tell whether the plural refers to different individuals or different groups. The "companion" sense is well established in standard use, however, and its meaning is clear enough in such sentences as "her cohorts came along with her to the game."
Examples of cohort in a Sentence
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 May 2026
There was a cohort in 2023 with The Stratford Festival and Intermission magazine, and the Public has hosted the cohorts since then.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
The ringleader of the larcenous group is 17-year-old Kyle (Georgie Farmer, Wednesday), with his perpetually online cohorts being Petey (James Scholz), Sid (Roman Hayeck Green) and Alex (Yasmin Finney, Heartstopper, Doctor Who).
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
For American collectors — including a growing cohort from Maryland, where private collections increasingly intersect with institutional ambitions in Baltimore and the Washington corridor — the shift is instructive.
—Andrew S. Jacobson, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cohort
Cite this Entry
“Cohort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohort. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cohort
noun
Medical Definition
cohort
noun
R. R. Suskind et al.
