cognizance
or cog·ni·sance
- judicial notice as taken by a court in dealing with a cause.
- the right of taking jurisdiction, as possessed by a court.
- acknowledgment; admission, as a plea admitting the fact alleged in the declaration.
Origin of cognizance
OTHER WORDS FROM cognizance
non·cog·ni·zance, nounself-cog·ni·zance, nounWords nearby cognizance
VOCAB BUILDER
What does cognizance mean?
Cognizance is awareness or knowledge of something.
The word cognizance is typically used in a formal way. The word awareness means the same thing but is used more broadly.
The adjective form of cognizance is cognizant. To be cognizant of something is to be aware of it or have knowledge of it. 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.
Cognizance is used in a more specific way in a legal context. It can refer to a court’s right to jurisdiction in a case, or to knowledge of certain facts, or, sometimes, to a confession. The related word recognizance is also used in a legal context, often referring to an obligation to appear before a court or perform some other legal action, as in He was released on his own recognizance.
Example: We need to have more cognizance of the issues that are being faced by the average citizen.
Where does cognizance come from?
The first records of the word cognizance come from the 1200s. It ultimately comes from the Latin cognōscere, meaning “to know.” The word cognition is based on the same root.
Cognizance doesn’t involve cognition so much as recognition. Having cognizance of something is recognizing that it exists, having knowledge of it, or being aware of it. The word is often used in the discussion of the importance of recognizing that a problem exists and then addressing it.
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What are some other forms related to cognizance?
- cognisance (alternate spelling)
- cognizant (adjective)
What are some synonyms for cognizance?
What are some words that share a root or word element with cognizance?
What are some words that often get used in discussing cognizance?
How is cognizance used in real life?
Cognizant is typically used in a formal way. The word awareness means the same thing but is more commonly and broadly used.
"More field research is needed, he meant. More sampling of wild animals. More scrutiny of genomes. More cognizance of the fact that animal infections can become human infections, because humans are animals." https://t.co/i23brmKgiC
— Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) September 20, 2020
.@baselinescene "I think a narrower safety net, and more cognizance of what it means to be in the safety net, is really important."
— John Heltman (@JohnHeltman) December 5, 2016
@AAOSmembers Very topical – illustrates the need for increased cognizance and protocol for concussions in all HS sports
— Sergio M Navarro (@SergMNavarro) October 7, 2016
Try using cognizance!
Which of the following words is a synonym of cognizance?
A. cognition
B. awareness
C. information
D. ignorance
How to use cognizance in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for cognizance
cognisance
- the right of a court to hear and determine a cause or matter
- knowledge of certain facts upon which the court must act without requiring proof
- mainly US confession