Definition of "cognoscente" [cog•nos•cen•te]

• A person with superior, usually specialized knowledge or highly refined taste; a connoisseur. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "But considered a must-read among the cognoscente, The Hotline propelled Craig to a higher profile in Washington that enabled him to take his first real steps toward the success he enjoys today."
• "And in dealing with Native American tribes, the US needs to be cognoscente that this is the same as making a treaty with Russia over bombs."
• "But apparently the cognoscente doesnt include people from the St. Petersburg and Tampa region, because this team has just had an enormous amount of difficulty drawing fans to their game."