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
Turquoise Alerts are for missing endangered persons under 65 in suspicious circumstances, while Silver Alerts are for those 65+ or with cognitive disabilities.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
An additional 19% of respondents indicated their care recipient is living with a cognitive impairment, leaving more than 1 in 4 caregivers caring for someone with memory issues and/or dementia.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Overwhelming amounts of research conclusively indicates that exercise not only reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, but also strengthens the immune system and preserves cognitive function.
—Web Golinkin, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
On the heels of former President Joe Biden dropping out of his 2024 reelection bid after public displays of cognitive impairment, some Democrats said Evers' age could be used against him in a race.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cognitive
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Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
An additional 19% of respondents indicated their care recipient is living with a cognitive impairment, leaving more than 1 in 4 caregivers caring for someone with memory issues and/or dementia.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Overwhelming amounts of research conclusively indicates that exercise not only reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, but also strengthens the immune system and preserves cognitive function.
—Web Golinkin, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
On the heels of former President Joe Biden dropping out of his 2024 reelection bid after public displays of cognitive impairment, some Democrats said Evers' age could be used against him in a race.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 24 July 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 29 Jul. 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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