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
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
Research confirms that a change in physical setting—even something as small as adding plants, improving lighting, or moving to a new room—can alter your cognitive processes and improve the fluency and originality of your ideas.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
The team believes that Puddles' cognitive dysfunction was caused by a mix of brain damage, due to an accident that broke her leg, and malnutrition as a kitten, Wren said.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
For people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, a simple blood test for insulin resistance may reveal their risk of rapid cognitive decline, according to new research.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 June 2025
People with hearing loss have to pay closer attention and use more cognitive energy every day, which may impair their cognition over time, Brenowitz said.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
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Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
The team believes that Puddles' cognitive dysfunction was caused by a mix of brain damage, due to an accident that broke her leg, and malnutrition as a kitten, Wren said.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
For people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, a simple blood test for insulin resistance may reveal their risk of rapid cognitive decline, according to new research.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 June 2025
People with hearing loss have to pay closer attention and use more cognitive energy every day, which may impair their cognition over time, Brenowitz said.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
Cite this Entry
“Cognitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
C. H. Hamburg
cognitively
adverb
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