Cognizance — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈkäg-nə-zən(t)s/ cog·ni·zance

Meaning & Definition of Cognizance

Cognizance (noun)

  1. a distinguishing mark or emblem (such as a heraldic bearing)
  2. knowledge, awareness
  3. notice, acknowledgment

Cognizance (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of being aware

    "take cognizance of what is happening"

    similar: advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, consciousness, ear, eye, heed, knowledge, mindfulness, note, notice, observance, observation
    related: hyperawareness, hyperconsciousness, advisement, care, concern, consideration, regard, watch, apprehension, discernment, grasp, mind, perception, recognition, thought, understanding
    near: disregard, neglect, obliviousness, unawareness

  2. knowledge gained by personal experience

    "seemed to have no cognizance of last night's events"

    similar: acquaintance, familiarity
    related: association, experience, exposure, intimacy, involvement, initiation, introduction, awareness, comprehension, conception, inkling, notion, understanding, education, enlightenment, grounding, information, instruction, learning, schooling, training
    opposite: unfamiliarity
    near: callowness, greenness, ignorance, inexperience

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cognizance

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cognizance:

advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, consciousness, ear, eye, heed, knowledge, mindfulness, note, notice, observance, observation, acquaintance, familiarity

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cognizance

Words with the opposite meaning of Cognizance:

unfamiliarity

Related Words for Cognizance

hyperawareness, hyperconsciousness, advisement, care, concern, consideration, regard, watch, apprehension, discernment, grasp, mind, perception, recognition, thought, understanding, association, experience, exposure, intimacy, involvement, initiation, introduction, comprehension, conception, inkling, notion, education, enlightenment, grounding

Near Antonyms of Cognizance

disregard, neglect, obliviousness, unawareness, callowness, greenness, ignorance, inexperience

Origin & Etymology of Cognizance

Middle English cognisaunce, latinization (after cognōscere and its derivatives) of conissaunce, conoisance "knowledge, understanding, distinguishing mark (as on a shield)," borrowed from Anglo-French conoisance, conisance, from conisant, conoissant "aware, mindful" (from present participle of conoistre "to know, be aware of," going back to Latin cognōscere "to get to know, acquire knowledge of") + -ance -ance cognition

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cognizance

Words & Phrases Containing Cognizance

take cognizance of

Frequently Asked Questions about Cognizance

What does "Cognizance" mean?

"Cognizance" means a distinguishing mark or emblem (such as a heraldic bearing). As a noun, it is defined as: a distinguishing mark or emblem (such as a heraldic bearing). It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cognizance"?

Other words for "Cognizance" include advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, consciousness, ear, eye and heed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cognizance" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cognizance"?

There are 51 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cognizance". Common alternatives include advertence, advertency, attention, awareness, consciousness, ear, eye, heed, knowledge and mindfulness.

What is the opposite of "Cognizance"?

Antonyms of "Cognizance" include unfamiliarity. Near antonyms include disregard, neglect, obliviousness and unawareness.

How do you use "Cognizance" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cognizance" in a sentence: "take cognizance of what is happening"; "seemed to have no cognizance of last night's events".

Is "Cognizance" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cognizance" is a noun.

Is "Cognizance" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Cognizance" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cognizance"?

"Cognizance" is pronounced /ˈkäg-nə-zən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as cog·ni·zance.