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
By automating mundane tasks and introducing a more intuitive interface to computational systems, agentic technologies can free cognitive resources, enabling individuals to focus on more meaningful, creative and strategic pursuits.
—Egor Pushkin, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Considered one of the most contagious infectious diseases, measles can in some instances cause severe infections that result in cognitive issues, deafness and even death.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2025
For example, an emerging cognitive theory called predictive processing suggests that doing hard things gives us access to new information about both ourselves and the world, an experience that our brains are wired to find pleasurable.
—Alex Hutchinson, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
While these nutrients play different roles in brain health and function, having low levels of either can lead to cognitive issues.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
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Egor Pushkin, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Considered one of the most contagious infectious diseases, measles can in some instances cause severe infections that result in cognitive issues, deafness and even death.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2025
For example, an emerging cognitive theory called predictive processing suggests that doing hard things gives us access to new information about both ourselves and the world, an experience that our brains are wired to find pleasurable.
—Alex Hutchinson, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
While these nutrients play different roles in brain health and function, having low levels of either can lead to cognitive issues.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 24 Mar. 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 9 Apr. 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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