Standard Lemma guide

cognizant

adj · 3 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'nǐzənt
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɒɡnɪzənt/
  • Atlantic-Canada, General-American: /ˈkɑɡnɪzənt/
  • Australian: /ˈkɔɡnɪzənt/
  • obsolete: kŏ'nĭzənt
  • UK: /ˈkɒnɪzənt/
  • CMU ARPABET: K AA1 G N AH0 Z AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Aware; fully informed; having understanding of a fact.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The defendant is cognizant that this is a serious charge.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Sapient; self-aware.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Is the cat truly cognizant in any real way?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

(sometimes followed by `of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • was aware of his opponent's hostility
  • became aware of her surroundings
  • aware that he had exceeded the speed limit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: aware(p), cognisant

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A new formation from cognizance + -ant; first attested in the 19th century. Compare Old French conoissant (present participle of conoistre; modern French connaissant), from Latin cognōscentem (accusative singular present participle of cōgnōscō).

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مُدْرِك (mudrik) — aware
  • Bulgarian: осведомен (osvedomen) — aware
  • Bulgarian: наясно (najasno) — aware
  • Catalan: conscient — aware
  • Chinese Mandarin: 認識到的 /认识到的 (rènshi dào de) — aware
  • Chinese Mandarin: 察知的 (cházhī de) — aware
  • Chinese Mandarin: 了解的 (liǎojiě de) — aware
  • Czech: znalý — aware
  • Czech: informovaný — aware
  • Czech: vědomý si — aware
  • Dutch: bewust — aware
  • Finnish: tietoinen — aware
  • French: conscient — aware
  • German: gewahr — aware
  • Italian: cosciente — aware
  • Latin: conscius — aware
  • Māori: maurioho — aware
  • Polish: świadomy — aware
  • Russian: осозна́вший (osoznávšij) — aware
  • Russian: осведомлённый (osvedomljónnyj) — aware
  • Spanish: consciente — aware
  • Spanish: cognoscente — aware
  • Spanish: cognoscitivo — aware
  • Swedish: medveten — aware
  • Turkish: haberdar — aware
  • Turkish: bilen — aware
  • Ottoman Turkish: خبردار (haberdâr) — aware
Real reading context

cognizant in complete knowledge articles