cognizant
6 synonyms and 3 antonyms for cognizant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Aware of something and taking it into account.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use cognizant
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cognizant of
fully cognizant
remain cognizant
be cognizant that
keenly cognizant
Formal and slightly bureaucratic; aware is the natural everyday choice. British writers also spell it cognisant.
Etymology
Via Old French conoissant from Latin cognoscere meaning to get to know, from co- and gnoscere to know.
Full origin of cognizant →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cognizant and aware?
They mean much the same thing, but cognizant is markedly more formal and suggests the awareness is being actively factored into a decision. In ordinary speech aware is almost always the better word.
Is it cognizant or cognisant?
Both are correct. Cognizant is standard in American English and common internationally, while cognisant is the traditional British spelling. Neither changes the meaning.
Can you say a cognizant person?
It is unusual. Cognizant normally follows the verb and takes of, as in she was cognizant of the delay, rather than sitting in front of a noun.
