cognisant
Cognisant (adjective) means Aware of something, or having knowledge of it, especially something that ought to be taken into account. Example: “The board was fully cognisant of the risks before approving the loan.”
How to Use Cognisant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKnowing about something, or keeping it in mind.
Formal and slightly bureaucratic. Common in law, corporate reports and official statements; it can sound stiff in everyday speech.
Remember the preposition: you are cognisant OF something, never cognisant about it.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The board was fully _____ of the risks before approving the loan.
Etymology
From Old French conoissant, the present participle of conoistre, from Latin cognoscere 'to get to know', formed from co- 'together' and gnoscere 'to know'. The spelling with a g was restored later on the Latin model.
Related Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between cognisant and cognizant?
There is no difference in meaning — they are the same word. Cognisant is the British spelling and cognizant is the American one, though the z spelling is also common in British writing and is the older form.
Is cognisant the same as aware?
They mean much the same thing, but cognisant is markedly more formal and is typical of legal, official and business writing. If you can say aware without sounding out of place, aware is usually the better choice.
How do you use cognisant in a sentence?
It is normally followed by of or by a that-clause: 'cognisant of the danger' or 'cognisant that funds were low'. It is rarely used before a noun, so you would not say 'a cognisant manager'.