metacognition
noun
meta·cog·ni·tion
ˌme-tə-käg-ˈni-shən 
: awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking processes
Research on metacognition … has demonstrated the value of monitoring one's own cognitive processes.—
Colette A. Daiute
Colette A. DaiuteExamples of metacognition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Leaders with high levels of metacognition are much less vulnerable to cognitive biases, which are really ruling the business world right now.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
But lucid dreaming involves metacognition, which is a type of cognitive control in which someone becomes aware of their own thoughts.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The other missing component is metacognition — the awareness of awareness — and a sense of agency.
—Rachel Barr, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
At the core of human intelligence is metacognition — the awareness of our own thinking processes.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Share [Findings] Sets of both fraternal and identical twins exhibit internally similar metacognitive abilities, suggesting that metacognition is environmental rather than heritable.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
Nord Anglia Education, a network of over 80 international schools, launched this initiative in 2023 to teach metacognition.
—Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Researchers believe this indicates dogs recognize their own ignorance – a sign of metacognition.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2024
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Fortune Editors, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
But lucid dreaming involves metacognition, which is a type of cognitive control in which someone becomes aware of their own thoughts.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The other missing component is metacognition — the awareness of awareness — and a sense of agency.
—Rachel Barr, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
At the core of human intelligence is metacognition — the awareness of our own thinking processes.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Share [Findings] Sets of both fraternal and identical twins exhibit internally similar metacognitive abilities, suggesting that metacognition is environmental rather than heritable.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
Nord Anglia Education, a network of over 80 international schools, launched this initiative in 2023 to teach metacognition.
—Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Researchers believe this indicates dogs recognize their own ignorance – a sign of metacognition.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Metacognition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metacognition. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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