cognitive

adjective

cog·ni·tive | \ ˈkäg-nə-tiv

Definition of cognitive

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

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

Other Words from cognitive How Should You Use cognitive? More Example Sentences Learn More About cognitive

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Examples of cognitive in a Sentence

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 Further into the forebrain, motor functions trail off and cognitive functions, involving planning and thinking about the future, begin. — Sandra Blakeslee, New York Times, 8 Nov. 1994

Recent Examples on the Web The approval is for use in patients with mild cognitive impairment, which is the memory loss and loss of clear thinking ability that often progresses to dementia. — Maggie Fox, CNN, 10 June 2021 In March 2019, late-stage clinical trials of aducanumab were stopped when results showed the drug, administered as a monthly infusion, was not better at slowing memory loss and cognitive impairment than a placebo. — Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 8 June 2021 Trials only included patients in the earliest stages of dementia, called mild cognitive impairment. — NBC News, 8 June 2021 It’s only been tested in people with mild dementia from Alzheimer’s or a less severe condition called mild cognitive impairment. — Matthew Perrone, chicagotribune.com, 7 June 2021 The company also focused on administering Aduhelm to people with mild cognitive impairment or the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s, before brain cells were too damaged to stem the tide of the disease. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 7 June 2021 In the next 10 years, nearly half of the oldest boomers face the likelihood of some cognitive impairment. — Randall Smith, WSJ, 6 June 2021 Some recoveries are complete, and others trigger chronic depression or cognitive impairment. — Anne Saker, The Enquirer, 28 May 2021 Rebecca is diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cognitive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near cognitive

cognitive behavioral therapy

cognitive dissonance

cognitive radio

Statistics for cognitive

Last Updated

16 Jun 2021

Cite this Entry

“Cognitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive. Accessed 18 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for cognitive

cognitive

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of cognitive

technical : of, relating to, or involving conscious mental activities (such as thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering)

See the full definition for cognitive in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cognitive

adjective

cog·ni·tive | \ ˈkäg-nət-iv

Medical Definition of cognitive

: of, relating to, or being conscious intellectual activity (as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, or learning words) the cognitive elements of perception— C. H. Hamburg