cognizant
Americanadjective
-
having cognizance; aware (usually followed byof ).
He was cognizant of the difficulty.
-
having legal cognizance or jurisdiction.
adjective
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?
Synonym Usage
See conscious.
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing cognizant
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Grade 9, List 4
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In the Know: Cogn, Conn
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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.
I’m sure self-care needs were being hit during this time, but I was also cognizant of another factor: my increased screen time.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
Lamont is also cognizant of the fact that the issuance story is just about equity: it includes debt too.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
We are cognizant that this isn’t like a hotel chain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Dramatists are more cognizant than ever of the sociopolitical import of these contradictions and they’ve been chronicling the way this historically freighted baggage emerges in the drama of everyday life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
A commitment to color consciousness, by contrast, places faith in our capacity as humans to show care and concern for others, even as we are fully cognizant of race and possible racial differences.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
