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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
Grace Perry, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
Keeping experienced employees on board as mentors is a simple way for companies to instill these critical competencies in newer cohorts.
—Mary Moreland, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Improving engagement with the Starbucks Rewards member cohort could be another lever for growth.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Directors chooses three candidates from their district to create the 21-member cohort, who will learn about the local water system and the agency’s projects through webinars and tours of water infrastructure.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cohort
Cite this Entry
“Cohort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohort. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cohort
noun
Medical Definition
cohort
noun
R. R. Suskind et al.
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