# cognition

/kɑɡˈnɪʃən/ (US) · /kɒɡnˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cognition
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. mental process

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

the way your brain works to understand things, remember information, and solve problems.

For teachers: the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. Uncountable in this general psychological sense.

- Scientists are studying how sleep affects cognition and memory in older adults.
- The research paper explores the relationship between social interaction and the development of higher-order cognition in early childhood.

Usage: Often used in scientific or psychological contexts to describe the mechanics of the mind.

### 2. a specific thought

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

a single thought or a specific result of thinking.

For teachers: a specific product of the cognitive process, such as a thought, belief, or perception. Countable in this specific application.

- The patient recorded every negative cognition they had during the day.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy aims to identify and challenge distorted cognitions that lead to emotional distress.

Usage: Commonly used in clinical psychology and philosophy when referring to individual units of thought.

### 3. awareness

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

the state of knowing or being aware of something.

For teachers: the state of having knowledge or awareness of a fact or situation.

- The judge had full cognition of the facts before making the final decision.
- The defendant claimed to have no prior cognition of the illegal activities occurring within the firm.

Teaching tip: This sense is largely archaic or restricted to formal legal contexts; 'awareness' or 'knowledge' is preferred in modern speech.

## Examples

- Reading every day helps improve your memory and overall cognition.
- As people get older, they often do puzzles and play games to keep their cognition sharp and prevent memory loss.
- The study investigates how bilingualism affects human cognition, specifically examining whether speaking two languages delays the onset of age-related mental decline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.