metacognition

noun

meta·​cog·​ni·​tion ˌme-tə-käg-ˈni-shən How to pronounce metacognition (audio)
: awareness or analysis of one's own learning or thinking processes
research on metacognition … has demonstrated the value of monitoring one's own cognitive processesColette A. Daiute

Examples of metacognition in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Researchers believe this indicates dogs recognize their own ignorance – a sign of metacognition. Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2024 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, 23 Oct. 2024 Fostering Metacognition And Lifelong Learning: Nurturing Reflective Thinkers The final shift should be toward fostering metacognition, encouraging students to think about their thinking. Beata M. Jones, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 Self-assessment fosters metacognition, helping students reflect and adapt. Beata M. Jones, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 Marcus quickly jumped on social media and his blog to trumpet his agreement with Gates’ views on metacognition. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 2 July 2024 There are many flavors of CBT, but most deal in one way or another with metacognition. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023 So Dijkstra, under the direction of Steve Fleming, a metacognition expert at University College London, set up a modern version of the experiment that avoided the problem. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 24 May 2023 Although the uncertainty test is a classic way to demonstrate metacognition, there may be other explanations for these dogs’ behavior. Sabina Schrynemakers, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metacognition was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near metacognition

Cite this Entry

“Metacognition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metacognition. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!