cognition

American  

[kog-nish-uhn] / kɒgˈnɪʃ ən /

noun

cognitions plural

1. the act or process of knowing; perception.

2. the product of such a process; something thus known, perceived, etc.

3. knowledge.

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cognition British  

/ kɒɡˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired, including perception, intuition, and reasoning

2. the knowledge that results from such an act or process

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cognition Scientific  

/ kŏg-nĭsh′ən /

1. The mental process of knowing, including awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncognition
  noun
• self-cognition
  noun
• cognitional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cognitions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cognition

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English cognicioun, from Latin cognitiōn-, stem of cognitiō “knowledge, a learning,” equivalent to cognit(us) “learned, known” (past participle of cognōscere “to learn, become acquainted,” from co- co- + gnōscere, nōscere “to learn”; see know ¹) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Cognition is the act of thinking, perceiving, and understanding. It's cognition that makes it possible for you to learn a foreign language. The word cognition is most often used in scholarly or formal writing about learning and thinking, though you can also use it to describe what happens when you use your brain power to complete a crossword puzzle or remember math equations for a test. Cognition comes from the Latin cognitio, meaning "a getting to know, knowledge" combining com-, "together," and gnoscere, "to know."

Example Sentences

Physical AI agents are built on three key blocks: perception, cognition and actuation, the analysts note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

Regular participation in the arts improves cognition, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress, according to “Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026

Cook, who also serves as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, said the findings challenge common assumptions about aging and cognition.

From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026

That connection exists despite the likelihood that Neanderthals differed substantially from modern humans in many aspects of cognition.

From Science Daily • Jun. 12, 2026

Snap judgments and rapid cognition take place behind a locked door.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell