Episode Overview

Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Episode Title: cognoscente
Date: October 26, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski

This episode spotlights the word "cognoscente" (with the more common English plural, "cognoscenti"), unpacking its meaning, origin, and connections to other English words. The host also explores the word's historical journey into English, its grammatical variants, and its linguistic relatives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Usage (00:00–01:00)

• Word of the Day: cognoscente

  • Pronounced: /ˌkɒn.jəˈʃen.teɪ/, also cognizanti
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definition: A person with expert knowledge in a subject.
  • Plural: cognoscenti (more common in English, spelled with an "i" at the end)

• Sample Sentence:

  • "Even as Ray Bradbury was embraced by the New York cognoscenti—traveling to the city in the fall of '46, drawing the attention of Truman Capote, meeting Gore Vidal, dancing with Carson McCullers at a Manhattan party, Mars beckoned. Yet he would not dare tell his New York associates for fear of being laughed out of the room."
    — Sam Weller for LitHub.com
    [00:24]

Etymology and Related Words (01:00–01:40)

• Etymological Roots:

  • Both cognoscente and connoisseur (another term for an expert) share a linguistic ancestry, descending from the Latin verb cognoscere (meaning "to know").

• Word Family Connections:

  • Cognizance and cognition also come from cognoscere.
  • Recognize shares the same root.
  • The host also points out the connection with incognito and precognition:
    • "Can you see through the disguise of the word incognito? Did you have a premonition that we would mention the word precognition?" (Peter Sokolowski, 01:22)

• Notable Quote:

  • "Cognoscenti and connoisseur, both terms for those in the know, are more than synonyms. They're also linguistic cousins."
    — Peter Sokolowski [01:05]

Historical Background (01:40–02:00)

• Language Journey:

  • Cognoscente entered English by way of Italian.
  • It has been part of the English language since the late 1700s.

• Host Sign-off:

  • "With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. Visit Merriam-Webster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups." [01:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On linguistic relationships:
  "Cognoscenti and connoisseur, both terms for those in the know, are more than synonyms. They're also linguistic cousins."
  — Peter Sokolowski [01:05]

• Engaging wordplay:
  "Do you also recognize a family resemblance in the word recognize? Can you see through the disguise of the word incognito? Did you have a premonition that we would mention the word precognition?"
  — Peter Sokolowski [01:18–01:25]

• Literary usage:
  Ray Bradbury's encounter with the "New York cognoscenti" paints a vivid picture of the word in action, drawn from Sam Weller's LitHub article. [00:24]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction of "cognoscente," pronunciation, spelling, and definition
• 00:24 – Sample sentence with "cognoscenti" (Sam Weller quote)
• 01:05 – Relationship between "cognoscente" and "connoisseur"
• 01:18–01:25 – Playful exploration of related words like "cognizance," "recognize," "incognito," "precognition"
• 01:40 – Italian origins and entry into English in the 1700s
• 01:55 – Episode conclusion and host sign-off

Summary

Peter Sokolowski presents "cognoscente" as the word of the day, explaining its meaning as someone with expert knowledge, its common plural usage (cognoscenti), and its deep-rooted connections to other English words related to knowledge and recognition. The episode blends linguistic history, etymology, and even a literary example, making the word memorable and providing listeners with an enriching moment of word learning in under two minutes.