cognition

noun

cog·​ni·​tion käg-ˈni-shən 

: cognitive mental processes

A concussion impaired the patient's cognition.

also : a product of these processes

cognitional

käg-ˈni-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of cognition in a Sentence

disabilities affecting cognition and judgment

Recent Examples on the Web

Multiple experts told Flow Space that challenging the mind keeps cognition sharp by training and activating problem solving skills, memory, visual perception and reasoning. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 1 Jan. 2026

Disorders that primarily affect cognition, behavior and emotions are hard to recognize and hard for other people to understand or accept. —Kat McGowan, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025

On board with the four crew members will be a slew of tools that can be used to evaluate the their cognition, sleep, stress, immune responses and cardiovascular health. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025

But the late-stage trial failed to meet its main goal, showing that semaglutide didn’t significantly impact cognition in Alzheimer’s patients. —Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cognicioun "comprehension, ability to comprehend," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French cognicion "knowledge, jurisdiction," borrowed from Latin cognitiōn-, cognitiō "act of getting to know, comprehension, investigation," from cogni-, variant stem of cognōscere "to get to know, acquire knowledge of, become acquainted with, investigate" (from co- co- + gnōscere, nōscere "to get to know," inchoative derivative from Indo-European *ǵneh₃-, *ǵṇh₃- "to know, recognize") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at know entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cognition

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition
• dismission

Kids Definition

cognition

noun

cog·​ni·​tion käg-ˈnish-ən 

: the act or process of knowing

Medical Definition

cognition

noun

cog·​ni·​tion käg-ˈnish-ən 

1

: cognitive mental processes

2

: a conscious intellectual act

conflict between cognitions