Groups of people with shared characteristics or experiences, especially in research studies; also refers to companions or associates.
From Latin 'cohors', originally meaning an enclosure for cattle, later extended to describe a military unit of 300-600 soldiers. The meaning broadened to include any organized group or band of associates.
The evolution from cattle pen to military unit to research group shows how organizational concepts transfer across vastly different contexts. In modern epidemiology, cohort studies have revealed crucial health insights by following groups over decades, making this ancient Roman military term central to contemporary medical research.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.