cognitive

adjective

cog·​ni·​tive ˈkäg-nə-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, being, or involving conscious intellectual activity (such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering)

cognitive impairment

cognitive tests

2

philosophy : based on or capable of being reduced to empirical factual knowledge

cognitively adverb

Examples of cognitive in a Sentence

The best toys for toddlers engage their interests while developing their fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, and social skills. —Ashley Ziegler and Katrina Cossey, Parents, 12 Nov. 2024

Homo sapiens' survival is founded in their filling an evolutionary niche referred to as the cognitive niche. —Daniel Grassam, Skeptical Inquirer, July/August 2001

Researchers are debating whether heading balls can dent the cognitive skills of young soccer players for life. —Lisa McLaughlin, Time, 5 June 2000

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers studied mouse models engineered to overproduce Aβ protein and exhibit cognitive decline resembling Alzheimer’s disease. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found that air pollution may accelerate the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain, which can speed up cognitive decline. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025

Rapid amyloid-β clearance and cognitive recovery through multivalent modulation of blood–brain barrier transport. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

Melony had a rare form of epilepsy and cognitive impairments that left her functioning at the level of a 3-year-old, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. —David Ulloa Jr, AZCentral.com, 4 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin cognitīvus "concerned with knowing," from Latin cognitus, past participle of cognōscere "to get to know, acquire knowledge of" + -īvus -ive — more at cognition

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cognitive

• cognitive behavioral therapy
• cognitive behavior therapy
• cognitive dissonance
• cognitive science
• cognitive therapy

Rhymes for cognitive

• neurocognitive

Kids Definition

cognitive

adjective

cog·​ni·​tive ˈkäg-nət-iv 

: of, relating to, or being conscious mental activities (as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, learning words, and using language)

Medical Definition

cognitive

adjective

cog·​ni·​tive ˈkäg-nət-iv 

: of, relating to, or being conscious intellectual activity (as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, or learning words)

the cognitive elements of perception

—C. H. Hamburg

cognitively adverb