cognizance

noun

cog·​ni·​zance ˈkäg-nə-zən(t)s 

1

: a distinguishing mark or emblem (such as a heraldic bearing)

2

a

: knowledge, awareness

had no cognizance of the situation

b

: notice, acknowledgment

take cognizance of their achievement

3

: jurisdiction, responsibility

Synonyms

• advertence
• advertency
• attention
• awareness
• consciousness
• ear
• eye
• heed
• knowledge
• mindfulness
• note
• notice
• observance
• observation

Examples of cognizance in a Sentence

They seemed to have no cognizance of the crime.

take cognizance of what is happening

Recent Examples on the Web

This year, the Judiciary Committee, which has cognizance over everything from prisons and courts to criminal law and civil penalties, advanced bills having to do with cannabis offenses, street takeovers and wrongful incarceration. —Jaden Edison, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2024

His cognizance of and desire to confront social bigotry permeated his body of work as a producer, starting with his magnum opus All in the Family. —Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2023

The Gulf of Finland is under the cognizance of Finland (within its 12 nautical miles of territorial water), Sweden, Estonia and Russia. —Eric Tegler, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

Courts must take cognizance. —Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 29 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

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 — more at cognition

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cognizance

• take cognizance of

Kids Definition

cognizance

noun

cog·​ni·​zance ˈkäg-nə-zən(t)s 

1

: particular knowledge

had no cognizance of the crime

2

: the act or power of fixing one's mind on something : notice, heed

take cognizance of what is happening

3

: jurisdiction sense 1, responsibility

cognizant

-zənt

adjective

Legal Definition

cognizance

noun

cog·​ni·​zance ˈkäg-nə-zəns 

: jurisdiction

Etymology

Old French connoissance right to acknowledge and adjudicate issues, literally, knowledge, acquaintance, from connoistre to be acquainted with