Definition of Cognitive

Cognitive: Pertaining to cognition, the process of knowing and, more precisely, the process of being aware, knowing, thinking, learning and judging. The study of cognition touches on the fields of psychology, linguistics, computer science, neuroscience, mathematics, ethology and philosophy.

"Cognitive" comes from the Latin root "cognoscere" meaning to become acquainted with. Cognoscere is made up of "co-" + "gnoscere" = to come to know. Another term for cognitive is epistemic.