cohort

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Date: May 29, 2026
Word: cohort
Host: Peter Sokolowski

This episode is dedicated to exploring the word "cohort": its definitions, usage, etymology, and evolution in English. Host Peter Sokolowski explains both the historical and modern meanings, supports them with examples, and addresses interesting nuances about its usage.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Usage

• Primary Definition:
  • “Cohort” is a noun referring to “a group or band of individuals.”
  • Example: “a cohort of supporters.”
• Demographic Use:
  • Refers to individuals sharing a statistical factor, often age:
    • “a cohort of people born in the 1980s.”
• Individual Companion:
  • Can sometimes refer to a friend, companion, or colleague but is most often seen in plural.

2. Usage Example from Current Media

• "[...] by the time Rosie emerged for her afternoon meet and greet, the line of guests eager to hold the famed tarantula had already wrapped around the room and into the hallway. Tarantulas need to be at least 10 years old to be handled, so rearing a new cohort of Rosies could take up to a decade."
  • Source: The Denver Post
  • Explanation: Here, “cohort” refers to a new generation or group of tarantulas.

3. Etymology and Historical Context

• Roman Military Origin:
  • In ancient times, a cohort was “a military unit, one of 10 divisions in a Roman legion.”
• Transition to English:
  • Entered English in the 15th century, primarily via translations and discussions of Roman history.
• Evolved Meaning:
  • Broadened from “body of troops” to “any group with something in common,” and eventually, “a single companion.”

4. Usage Debate – Cohort as an Individual

• Controversy:
  • Some writers object to using “cohort” for a single companion, arguing it can create ambiguity.
  • Despite objections, the companion sense is “well established in standard use.”
• Example for Clarity:
  • “her cohorts came along with her to the game.”

5. Host’s Closing Thought

• Peter Sokolowski encourages listeners to embrace the word’s history and versatility.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the word’s flexibility:

  "Cohort can be used for individuals, too, as for a friend, companion or colleague, but it is almost always used in its plural form."
  — Peter Sokolowski [00:42]

• On historical background:

  "In ancient times, a cohort was a military unit, one of 10 divisions in a Roman legion."
  — Peter Sokolowski [01:29]

• On the usage debate:

  "Some writers on usage have objected to this last sense because it can be hard to tell whether the plural refers to different individuals or to 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."
  — Peter Sokolowski [02:02]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:42] — Introduction of "cohort," definitions, and first examples
• [01:15] — Example sentence from The Denver Post
• [01:29] — Etymology: Roman military roots
• [01:53] — Discussion of meaning evolution and singular/plural usage
• [02:02] — Usage controversy and clarification

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Summary

This episode highlights “cohort” as a word rich with history and adaptable meaning: from Roman times to demographic studies and everyday conversation. Peter Sokolowski guides listeners through its versatile uses, potential ambiguities, and confusions — all while reinforcing that “cohort” remains clear and relevant in contemporary English.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

It's the Word of the day podcast for May 29th.

[C]

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[B]

Today's word is cohort spelled C O H O R T. Cohort is a noun. It refers to a group or band of individuals, as in a cohort of supporters. It can also be used for a group of individuals who have a statistical factor, such as age, in common in a demographic study, as in a cohort of people born in the 1980s. Cohort can be used for individuals, too, as for a friend, companion or colleague, but it is almost always used in its plural form. Here's the word used in a sentence from the Denver Post by the time Rosie emerged for her afternoon meet and greet, the line of guests eager to hold the famed tarantula had already wrapped around the room and into the hallway. Tarantulas need to be at least 10 years old to be handled, so rearing a new cohort of Rosies could take up to a decade. In ancient times, a cohort was a military unit, one of 10 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, as in a cohort of law students or a cohort of people who were born in the same year and later to a single companion. Some writers on usage have objected to this last sense because it can be hard to tell whether the plural refers to different individuals or to 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 with your word of the day. I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[A]

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