metacognition

[ met-uh-kog-nish-uhn ]

noun

, Psychology.

1. higher-order thinking that enables understanding, analysis, and control of one’s cognitive processes, especially when engaged in learning.

metacognition

/ ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. psychol thinking about one's own mental processes

Other Words From

• met·a·cog·ni·tive [met-, uh, -, kog, -ni-tiv], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metacognition¹

First recorded in 1975–80; meta- + cognition

Example Sentences

"Our study may be the first to demonstrate that a different kind of cognitive ability, known as metacognition and mentalizing, might be much more influenced by environment."

From Science Daily

When I did my PhD, I was interested in metacognition in Alzheimer's disease.

From Salon

“He was not somebody who loved delving deeply into the metacognition of a children’s book,” says her older sister, Polly Stone, a teacher and school librarian in Vermont.

From Washington Post

But it’s actually the opposite — it’s more about metacognition or “thinking about thinking,” as my elementary school students have been learning lately.

From Washington Post

In terms of "metacognition," is Donald Trump aware of what motivates and drives his behavior?

From Salon