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Synonyms

cognoscenti

American  
[kon-yuh-shen-tee, kog-nuh-] / ˌkɒn yəˈʃɛn ti, ˌkɒg nə- /

plural noun

singular

cognoscente

  1. persons who have superior knowledge and understanding of a particular field, especially in the fine arts, literature, and world of fashion.

cognoscenti British  
/ ˌkɒɡnəʊ-, ˌkɒnjəʊˈʃɛntɪ /

plural noun

  1. (sometimes singular) people with informed appreciation of a particular field, esp in the fine arts; connoisseurs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cognoscenti

1770–80; < Italian, Latinized variant of conoscente (present participle of conoscere to know) < L. See cognition, -ent

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.

Once just 'the lads with the brushes', their physicality has evolved the position to the extent that the curling cognoscenti consider it to now be "a sweeping game" rather than a throwing one.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Some fashion cognoscenti questioned the blue lenses, saying the choice was garish and tacky.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

The crowd, composed mostly of New York and L.A. rap cognoscenti who had invented or dominated the genre, jeered, nearly heckling Outkast offstage — but not before André reeled off a prophesy.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2023

You know, just a little something for the cognoscenti to have as a little specialness.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 1, 2023

The French cognoscenti swear by "the swearing of the Horatii" of David.

From A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

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.