cohort

USAGE SUMMARY

"cohort" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to refer to a group of people associated with a particular activity or field, or to a group that is banded together and shares common interests, characteristics, or beliefs. For example, "The students in this cohort are all interested in pursuing a career in medicine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was a cohort of "lost kids we see in our data, who have no opportunity for economic mobility"; what's more, "those kids know".

The Economist

The only age group whose vote increased for Obama from 2008 to 2012 was 30-39 year-olds, as those who had formerly been 25-29 years old moved into 30-39 year-old age cohort.

The Guardian - Opinion

"What this scenario helps to illustrate is how buy-to-let has not only provided very strong returns for average investors since 1996 but how it has enabled a cohort of ambitious investors to become seriously wealthy," the report said.

The Guardian - Money

Authenticity has a cohort of semantic fellow-travellers – such as "spontaneity", which is engaging enough in small doses, in dogs and children, but tiresome and selfish in any stretch from adults.

The Guardian - Books

In the main, however, Australian baby boomers are not the savings-rich, generously superannuated cohort of popular mythology.

The Guardian - Opinion

Gittins is amongst the latest cohort to join the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) for local government which is now in its 11th year.

The Guardian

Second, rather than insist on raising marginal tax rates above $250,000 in income, the White House could suggest scaling back tax breaks for that cohort.

The Guardian

Other options available include councils recruiting their own graduates but allowing them to join the national cohort in its postgraduate diploma study.

The Guardian

"We're coming to the end of our first cohort of clients and planning their exit from the programme.

The Guardian

In their dreams (and in their long lunches with accountants and investors) the people farmers spin a trance-like spiel about a huge cohort of baby boomers soon to reach retirement, empty nesters without responsibilities, eager to wile away their twilight years in glorious consumption, placidly awaiting the dying of the light.

The Guardian - Opinion

"There has been an increase in self-harm, particularly on Christmas Island where the detainee cohort is most heavily impacted by new policies," the report warns.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cohort" to precisely denote a group sharing a specific characteristic or experience, especially in demographic or research contexts. Avoid using it as a general synonym for "group".

Common error

Avoid using "cohort" when a simpler term like "group" or "team" would suffice. "Cohort" implies a shared attribute or a longitudinal connection, which may not always be present.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cohort" is as a noun, referring to a group of people who share a common characteristic or experience. Ludwig AI validates this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cohort" is a noun referring to a group sharing a common characteristic or experience. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically sound and frequently used, particularly in news, business, and scientific contexts. While interchangeable with terms like "group" or "generation" in some instances, "cohort" carries a more specific connotation, implying shared attributes and a potentially longitudinal connection. When writing, reserve the use of "cohort" for situations where this shared characteristic is central to the discussion, and avoid it as a generic synonym for "group". Its formality makes it best suited for professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

group of individuals

Replaces the specific term "cohort" with a more general phrase.

age bracket

Focuses specifically on age as the defining characteristic of the group.

generation

Implies a group of people born around the same time, sharing cultural experiences.

class of people

Highlights the shared traits or status among individuals.

body of individuals

Suggests a formal or organized group of people.

set of participants

Emphasizes involvement in a specific activity or program.

collection of persons

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of referring to a group.

community

Implies a shared location or identity among a group of people.

population segment

Focuses on a specific portion of a larger population, often for statistical analysis.

cluster of entities

Suitable when referring to groups beyond just people, encompassing organizations or items.

FAQs

How do I use "cohort" in a sentence?

The term "cohort" is used to refer to a group of people with a shared characteristic, such as age or experience. For example: "The study focused on a cohort of patients diagnosed with the same condition."

What are some synonyms for "cohort"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "group", "generation", "class", or "body of individuals" to replace "cohort".

Is it appropriate to use "cohort" in informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "cohort" tends to be more formal. In casual conversation, simpler terms like "group" or "bunch" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "cohort" and "population"?

"Population" refers to the entire set of individuals, while "cohort" refers to a specific subset of that population sharing a common characteristic or experience.