cognisant

USAGE SUMMARY

'cognisant' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a synonym of the verb 'to be aware of' or 'to be conscious of.' You can use it in place of the verb to add variety to your language. Example sentence: The professor was cognisant of the complex nature of the problem before her.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Supporters are aware that Mowbray's wins-to-matches ratio is already worse than that of the greatly discredited John Barnes in 1998-99; they are also cognisant of the fact that Barnes was sacked the day after a Scottish Cup defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the highland club then, like Dunfermline now, in the First Division.

The Guardian - Sport

"Part of our investigation will look at the conduct of the financial institutions to see whether they were cognisant of the fact they were helping launder these bribe payments," the acting US attorney for the eastern district of New York, Kelly Currie, told a press conference last week.

The Guardian - Business

Hosch said the two MPs were "cognisant of what's required" to produce wording that Indigenous people can support and non-Indigenous Australians endorse.

The Guardian

Having witnessed the generational fracturing of my own family because of the 1955 Labor party split (it was a source of simmering tension in my parents' marriage for 50 years), I was ever cognisant of the range of emotion and action – from benevolent public service to astounding treachery – that politics could inspire.

The Guardian - Books

Mr Bhalla's telling final criticism of the report is that it assumes it has to be "cognisant of political realities and prejudices", rather than objective.

The Economist

"The government and everyone is cognisant of the new threat, but it is inordinately difficult to deal with," says Mark Whitaker, deputy director for crisis and security management at Control Risks, a security company.

The Economist

Voters don't seem to be cognisant that an attack on Iran's nuclear sites won't be a discrete event that stops it from getting a bomb; it will be the start of a new war in the Middle East, and of an indefinite commitment by America to keep bombing Iran wherever it seems nuclear-weapons development sites are being built.So, American voters: do you want to fight another war in the Middle East?

The Economist

"That's important for public officials to know and for them to be cognisant of these trade-offs as they develop or continue to develop dietary guidelines in the future".

Independent

He defended his approach to publicity: "I am cognisant that publicity, especially in cases without foundation, carries an inherent risk of reputational damage".

Independent

Speaking to the Washington Post, Mr Bergdahl's former pastor Bob Henley said that the father had been "very cognisant of the possibility" that he might be accused of succumbing to some form of captive-bonding Stockholm syndrome.

Independent

Interestingly, at this point Brand seemed fully cognisant that regardless of whether one agrees with people or not in the world of media/politics "at night we all go to the same parties".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject of "cognisant" is capable of possessing awareness, like a person or organization.

Common error

Avoid using "cognisant" in very informal settings; alternatives like "aware" or "conscious" may be more appropriate in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cognisant" is as an adjective. It describes a state of being aware or conscious of something. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cognisant" functions as an adjective signifying awareness or consciousness, often used in formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms it as a correct and usable word in written English, synonymous with "aware of" or "conscious of". It's commonly found in news and media, formal business, and science contexts. While grammatically sound, it's best to reserve "cognisant" for situations where a formal tone is appropriate, considering alternatives like "aware" for casual settings. Understanding these nuances helps ensure precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aware of

Focuses on the state of knowing or realizing something.

conscious of

Implies being awake to or attentive to something.

mindful of

Suggests being careful and attentive to something.

informed about

Highlights the aspect of having received information.

apprised of

Formal term for being officially informed.

conversant with

Implies familiarity and understanding of a topic.

knowledgeable about

Indicates having a good understanding and information on a particular subject.

sensitive to

Emphasizes awareness of feelings or circumstances.

familiar with

Suggests a general understanding or acquaintance.

understanding of

Highlights comprehension and grasp of a subject.

FAQs

How to use "cognisant" in a sentence?

"Cognisant" is typically used to indicate that someone is aware or conscious of something. For example, "The team was cognisant of the risks involved." You can replace it with alternatives such as "aware of" or "conscious of".

What can I say instead of "cognisant"?

You can use alternatives like "aware of", "mindful of", or "conscious of" depending on the context. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "cognisant" or "cognizant"?

"Cognisant" and "cognizant" are both correct spellings, with "cognizant" being the more common spelling in American English. "Cognisant" is more frequently used in British English.

What's the difference between "cognisant" and "conscious"?

While both terms relate to awareness, "cognisant" often implies a more specific and informed awareness, whereas "conscious" suggests a general state of being awake and aware. For example, you might be "conscious" of the noise around you, but "cognisant" of the implications of a new policy.