cognitive
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to cognition; concerned with the act or process of knowing, perceiving, etc. .
cognitive development;
cognitive functioning.
-
of or relating to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- cognitively adverb
- cognitivity noun
- noncognitive adjective
Etymology
Origin of cognitive
First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin cognitīvus, equivalent to Latin cognit(us) “learned, known” ( see cognition) + -īvus -ive
Explanation
If it's related to thinking, it's considered cognitive. Anxious parents might defend using flashcards with toddlers as "nurturing their cognitive development." The adjective, cognitive, comes from the Latin cognoscere "to get to know" and refers to the ability of the brain to think and reason as opposed to feel. A child's cognitive development is the growth in his or her ability to think and solve problems. Many English words that involve knowing and knowledge have cogn- in them such as cognizant "aware of" and recognize "to know someone in the present because you knew them from the past."
Vocabulary lists containing cognitive
In the Know: Cogn, Conn
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Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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Vocabulary from "There Will Never Be an Age of Artificial Intimacy," by Sherry Turkle
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The resolution cited research indicating that children aged 8 to 11 who exceed screen-time guidelines are at higher risk for obesity and depressive symptoms and have scored lower on cognitive assessments.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
However, when combined with other known risk factors, it could help identify individuals who may benefit from closer monitoring, additional testing, or early interventions before cognitive symptoms emerge.
From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026
Mr. Acemoglu argues that while AI models have emerged that can engage in sophisticated reasoning, they don’t match human cognitive abilities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
Removing the cognitive strain of where food will come from also can reduce stigma and feelings of shame.
From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026
By 1975, deeper cognitive problems had emerged: he had visions, phantasms, and voices in his head that told him what to do.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
