cognizant

American  

[kog-nuh-zuhnt, kon-uh-] / ˈkɒg nə zənt, ˈkɒn ə- /

adjective

1. having cognizance; aware (usually followed byof ).

   He was cognizant of the difficulty.

2. having legal cognizance or jurisdiction.

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cognizant British  

/ ˈkɒnɪ-, ˈkɒɡnɪzənt /

adjective

1. (usually foll by of) aware; having knowledge

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Usage

What does cognizant mean? To be cognizant of something is to be aware of it or have knowledge of it. Such awareness can be called cognizance. Cognizant is almost always followed by the word of and the thing that the person is cognizant of, as in He was cognizant of the report at the time. It’s often used in the phrase cognizant of the fact, as in I’m cognizant of the fact that you dislike me, but we still need to work together to get this done. Cognizant is typically used in a formal way. The adjective aware means much the same thing but is used more broadly. Example: At what point did you become cognizant of the fact that you were not receiving everything that you were promised?

Related Words

See conscious.

Other Word Forms

• noncognizant adjective
• noncognizantly adverb
• precognizant adjective
• uncognizant adjective

Etymology

Origin of cognizant

First recorded in 1810–20; cogniz(ance) + -ant

Explanation

If you are cognizant of what's going on at the table behind you in the lunchroom, that means you know they're plotting to throw peas at your head. If you are cognizant of something, you are aware of or informed about it. This 19th century adjective derives from Latin cognōscere, "to learn." For the English adjective and noun, an older pronunciation with a silent g was in use in legal contexts up until the early 20th century. In law, these terms refer to jurisdiction, or the right of a court to hear a case.

Example Sentences

“While we’re trying to get the benefits of AI, we also are very cognizant of the risk of cyber,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

“While we believe shares can work, we are cognizant that Street yield estimates could have risk.”

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

So I think they were cognizant of what was going on in the real world and exercising the independence that life tenure gives them.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

Many were cognizant of both the benefits and drawbacks of regular food delivery.

From Salon • Mar. 3, 2026

Thembi was a member of the Pioneers, the juvenile section of the ANC, so he was already politically cognizant.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• apprehensive
• conscious
• informed
• judicious
• knowledgeable
• observant