definitions

cognoscenti

[ kon-yuh-shen-tee, kog-nuh- ]
/ ˌkɒn yəˈʃɛn ti, ˌkɒg nə- /
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plural noun, singular co·gno·scen·te [kon-yuh-tee, kog-nuh-] /ˌkɒn yə ti, ˌkɒg nə-/.

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

RELATED WORDS

specialist, connoisseur, expert, critic, judge, insider

Nearby words

cognizable, cognizance, cognizant, cognize, cognomen, cognoscenti, cognoscible, cognoscitive, cognovit, cogon, cogswell chair
Also conoscenti.

Origin of cognoscenti

1770–80; < Italian, Latinized variant of conoscente (present participle of conoscere to know) < L. See cognition, -ent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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British Dictionary definitions for cognoscenti

cognoscenti

conoscenti

/ (ˌkɒnjəʊˈʃɛntɪ, ˌkɒɡnəʊ-) /

pl n singular -te (-tiː)

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

Word Origin for cognoscenti

C18: from obsolete Italian (modern conoscente), from Latin cognōscere to know, learn about
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