Cognitive (KOG-nuh-tiv)
Category:
Mind & Self
Origin
From Latin cognitivus, relating to knowing or understanding, derived from cognoscere, “to get to know, recognize, learn.
Language Root
Latin cognoscere — “to know, recognize, become acquainted with,” formed from co- (“together, thoroughly”) + gnoscere (“to know”).
Original Meaning
Relating to knowing, recognizing, or acquiring knowledge.
Evolution Over Time
The word developed from the broad idea of knowing into a more specialized term for the mental processes involved in gaining and using knowledge. In modern psychology and cognitive science, it encompasses processes such as perception, attention, memory, language, reasoning, learning, and problem-solving.
Modern Usage
Relating to the processes of thinking, knowing, remembering, learning, perceiving, reasoning, and understanding.
Word Family
Cognition, Cognitive, Cognitively, Cognize, Cognizance, Cognizant
Related Concept
Thinking, Memory, Learning, Perception, Attention, Reasoning, Problem-Solving, Decision-Making, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Bias, Intelligence, Metacognition, Consciousness
Narrative
Your brain is constantly receiving information, interpreting what you see and hear, retrieving memories, focusing attention, solving problems, and making decisions. These are cognitive processes. Cognitive doesn’t simply mean “intelligent.” It describes the mental machinery involved in knowing and thinking. Every time you recognize a face, remember a name, understand a sentence, solve a problem, or reconsider an idea, cognition is at work.