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 published in Psychological Science shows that springtime weather has a significant positive impact on both mood and cognitive functioning, especially when individuals spend time outdoors.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Such interventions have been shown in past research to improve memory and thinking skills by five points on a cognitive test for people with mild cognitive impairment.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Some suggest this could negatively affect the immune system or be related to cognitive impairment in older adults.
—Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
The suborbital flight will provide approximately four minutes of microgravity conditions, allowing the crew to experience weightlessness and observe Earth from over 62 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface, leading to a cognitive shift known as the overview effect.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
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Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Such interventions have been shown in past research to improve memory and thinking skills by five points on a cognitive test for people with mild cognitive impairment.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Some suggest this could negatively affect the immune system or be related to cognitive impairment in older adults.
—Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
The suborbital flight will provide approximately four minutes of microgravity conditions, allowing the crew to experience weightlessness and observe Earth from over 62 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface, leading to a cognitive shift known as the overview effect.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 6 Apr. 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 10 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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