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 development
Mild cognitive impairment … involves a decline in mental acuity that is noticeable but not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.—
Nicholas Bakalar
Nicholas Bakalar… researchers kept people just slightly sleep deprived … and watched the subjects' performance on cognitive tests plummet.—James Hamblin
James Hamblin2
philosophy
: based on or capable of being reduced to empirical factual knowledge
debate whether normative statements can be cognitive
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
Seen from this perspective, music seems not merely like an activity that builds cognitive skills, but perhaps even more essentially like an activity that builds social connection.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
The tension young workers face with AI adoption Striking that balance is important not just for career development but for cognitive ability.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Most clinics start with comprehensive evaluations that can include CT, MRI and DXA scans, blood panels, cognitive testing, fitness assessments and genome sequencing.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
Initial workups at longevity clinics commonly include CT, MRI and DXA scans, blood panels, cognitive testing, fitness assessments and genome sequencing.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
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Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
The tension young workers face with AI adoption Striking that balance is important not just for career development but for cognitive ability.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Most clinics start with comprehensive evaluations that can include CT, MRI and DXA scans, blood panels, cognitive testing, fitness assessments and genome sequencing.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
Initial workups at longevity clinics commonly include CT, MRI and DXA scans, blood panels, cognitive testing, fitness assessments and genome sequencing.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
Cite this Entry
“Cognitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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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