cohort
C1formal, academic, technical
Definition
Meaning
A group of people who share a common characteristic or experience over a period of time.
A band of companions; a supporter or accomplice; a demographic or statistical grouping.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In academic and technical contexts, it strictly denotes a group studied over time. In general use, especially American English, it can mean a single companion or associate, which purists consider an error.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'cohort' is almost exclusively used for a group. In American English, the singular sense ('He arrived with three cohorts') is more common but still debated.
Connotations
UK: Neutral/statistical. US: Can be slightly informal or journalistic when used for a single associate.
Frequency
More frequent in academic and business contexts in both varieties. The singular usage is notably more frequent in US journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[cohort] + of + [group type]belong to a [cohort]follow a [cohort] over [time period]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to customers or users grouped by acquisition date for retention analysis (e.g., 'the Q4 2023 cohort').
Academic
Used in longitudinal studies (e.g., 'The 1970 British Cohort Study').
Everyday
Used loosely for a group sharing an experience (e.g., 'my university cohort').
Technical
Precise term in epidemiology, sociology, and data science for a tracked population subset.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She was in the same school cohort as my sister.
- The study followed a cohort of children from birth.
- Marketers analysed the spending habits of the 2020 user cohort.
- My entire graduate cohort found jobs within six months.
- The research team identified a cohort of patients exhibiting rare symptoms for longitudinal analysis.
- A cohort effect was observed, indicating that the results were influenced by the group's shared historical experiences.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CO-HORT of horses – a group of horses bred and raised together over time.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COHORT IS A UNIT MOVING THROUGH TIME (like a ship's crew on a long voyage).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'когорта' (ancient Roman military unit) – while etymologically correct, the modern English meaning is broader.
- Do not directly translate as 'cohort' when referring to a simple 'group' or 'team' without the longitudinal aspect.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean a single person in formal writing (especially UK).
- Confusing it with 'cohort' as a verb (it is not standard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'cohort' to mean a single companion MOST acceptable?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, it is sometimes used informally to mean a single associate or accomplice, but this is considered non-standard by many style guides and is rare in British English.
The key feature is that the group is studied or observed over a defined period of time, often to track changes or outcomes.
No, 'cohort' is not a standard verb. Do not use 'cohorting' or 'cohorted' in formal writing.
Learners often use it as a fancy synonym for any 'group', missing its specific connotation of a group defined by a shared time-limited characteristic or experience.