blood relationship
First cousin once removed
First cousin once removed
Definition
“Once removed” means one generation of difference. Your parent’s first cousin is your first cousin once removed. Your first cousin’s child is also your first cousin once removed.
How the relationship works
Shared ancestor distances differ by one. Example: you are 3 generations from the shared ancestor and the other person is 2 → degree 1, removal 1.
Example path
First cousin once removed
Path: You → Father → Cousin
Cousin degree equals min(3, 2) − 1 = 1. Removal equals |3 − 2| = 1. Person A is 3 generations from the shared ancestor; person B is 2 generations away. Along this path, you are 3 generations from the shared ancestor (great-grandparent), and the other person is 2 generations from that ancestor.
Frequently confused with
- Second cousin
FAQ
Does removed mean divorced?
No. In kinship language, removed only means a generation gap.