cognizant

[kog-nuh-zuhnt, kon-uh-]

adjective

1. having cognizance; aware (usually followed byof ).

   He was cognizant of the difficulty.

2. having legal cognizance or jurisdiction.

cognizant

/ ˈkɒnɪ-, ˈkɒɡnɪzənt /

adjective

1. (usually foll by of) aware; having knowledge

Other Word Forms

• noncognizant adjective
• noncognizantly adverb
• precognizant adjective
• uncognizant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cognizant¹

First recorded in 1810–20; cogniz(ance) + -ant

Synonym Study

See conscious.

Example Sentences

Stokes said the club was cognizant of ongoing air quality and soil toxin issues in the area.

From Los Angeles Times

“We are very cognizant of the fact that that Penske truck seemed to be engaged in a lot of the exact behavior that the language of the TRO specifically prohibits,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

But they were cognizant of keeping Langdon’s story arc a secret from viewers.

From Los Angeles Times

He goes through a mini-enlightenment with Molly, who is so focused on the present and cognizant that her time is limited.

From Los Angeles Times

Such moves were cheered by many, including those cognizant of Hollywood’s troubled history with diversity.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apprehensive 
• conscious 
• informed 
• judicious 
• knowledgeable 
• observant 

When To Use

What does cognizant mean?

To be cognizant of something is to be aware of it or have knowledge of it.Such awareness can be called cognizance.Cognizant is almost always followed by the word of and the thing that the person is cognizant of, as in He was cognizant of the report at the time. It’s often used in the phrase cognizant of the fact, as in I’m cognizant of the fact that you dislike me, but we still need to work together to get this done.Cognizant is typically used in a formal way. The adjective aware means much the same thing but is used more broadly.Example: At what point did you become cognizant of the fact that you were not receiving everything that you were promised?