Standard Lemma guide

cognizance

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • kŏg'nĭzəns
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɒɡnɪzəns/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Atlantic-Canada, General-American: /ˈkɑɡnɪzəns/
  • Australian: /ˈkɔɡnɪzəns/
  • obsolete: kŏ'nĭzəns
  • UK: /ˈkɒnɪzəns/
  • CMU ARPABET: K AA1 G N AH0 Z AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An emblem, badge or device, used as a distinguishing mark by the body of retainers of a royal or noble house.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Notice or awareness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Jurisdiction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

having knowledge of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he had no awareness of his mistakes
  • his sudden consciousness of the problem he faced
  • their intelligence and general knowingness was impressive

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: awareness, consciousness, cognisance, knowingness

Antonyms: incognizance

Broader terms: knowing

Narrower terms: self-awareness, feel, sense

5

noun

Meaning 5

range or scope of what is perceived

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: perception

6

noun

Meaning 6

range of what one can know or understand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • beyond my ken

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ken

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: knowing

History

Etymology

From Middle English conysaunce, from Old French conysance (“recognition," later, "knowledge”), from Old French conoissance (“acquaintance, recognition; knowledge, wisdom”), from conoistre (“to know”), from Latin cognōscō (“know”), from con- (“with”) + gnōscō (“know”). By surface analysis, cogniz(e) (a back-formation) + -ance.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: kenteken — emblem of noble house
  • Dutch: embleem — emblem of noble house
  • Polish: emblemat — emblem of noble house
  • Russian: эмбле́ма (embléma) — emblem of noble house
  • Bulgarian: знание (znanie) — awareness
  • Bulgarian: осведоменост (osvedomenost) — awareness
  • Dutch: bewustzijn — awareness
  • Greek: γνώση (gnósi) — awareness
  • Greek: αντίληψη (antílipsi) — awareness
  • Polish: poznanie — awareness
  • Russian: осведомлённость (osvedomljónnostʹ) — awareness