a company of companions or supporters
"The veteran officer stood at attention while his loyal cohort gathered around him to offer support."
a band of warriors (originally a unit of a Roman Legion)
"The general praised his loyal cohort as they marched bravely into battle alongside their commander."
a group of people having approximately the same age
"The teacher organized the class into small cohorts based on their birth years to facilitate peer learning."
A group of people supporting the same thing or person.
"The mayor rallied her political cohort to vote early on election day."
In plain English: A cohort is a group of people who share something specific, like being born in the same year or attending school together during that time.
"The researcher analyzed survey data from each student cohort separately to find differences in learning styles."
Usage: In everyday contexts, use cohort to refer specifically to a distinct subgroup within a larger population that shares common characteristics or experiences. Avoid confusing it with general terms like "group" when you need to emphasize statistical similarity or shared developmental timing.
To associate with such a group
"The shy student decided to join the club because he wanted to cohort with people who shared his interests in robotics."
In plain English: To cohort with someone means to hang out closely and act as their friend or partner.
"The new employees will cohort together to learn from their mentors during the first week on the job."
The word "cohort" comes from the Latin cohors, originally meaning a military unit or encampment. It entered English through two paths: first directly in Old English, then again later via Middle English and Old French after being reintroduced to the language.