recognition

American  

[rek-uhg-nish-uhn] / ˌrɛk əgˈnɪʃ ən /

noun

recognitions plural

1. an act of recognizing or the state of being recognized.

2. the identification of something as having been previously seen, heard, known, etc.

3. the perception of something as existing or true; realization.

4. the acknowledgment of something as valid or as entitled to consideration.

   the recognition of a claim.

5. the acknowledgment of achievement, service, merit, etc.

   Synonyms:

   acceptance, notice

6. the expression of this in the form of some token of appreciation.

   This promotion constitutes our recognition of her exceptional ability.

7. formal acknowledgment conveying approval or sanction.

8. acknowledgment of right to be heard or given attention.

   The chairman refused recognition to any delegate until order could be restored.

9. Psychology. the act or process of retrieving information previously encoded and stored in memory, when cued with the targeted information itself.

   The paper studies the effect of storytelling on English learners’ recognition of vocabulary words.

10. International Law. an official act by which one state acknowledges the existence of another state or government, or of belligerency or insurgency.

11. the automated conversion of information, as words or images, into a form that can be processed by a machine, especially a computer or computerized device.

12. Biochemistry. the responsiveness of one substance to another based on the reciprocal fit of a portion of their molecular shapes.

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recognition British  

/ ˌrɛkəɡˈnɪʃən, rɪˈkɒɡnɪtɪv /

noun

1. the act of recognizing or fact of being recognized

2. acceptance or acknowledgment of a claim, duty, fact, truth, etc

3. a token of thanks or acknowledgment

4. formal acknowledgment of a government or of the independence of a country

5. an instance of a chairman granting a person the right to speak in a deliberative body, debate, etc

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recognition Cultural  

1. In diplomacy, the act by which one nation acknowledges that a foreign government is a legitimate government and exchanges diplomats with it. The withholding of recognition is a way for one government to show its disapproval of another.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prerecognition
  noun
• recognitional
  adjective
• recognitive
  adjective
• recognitory
  adjective
• unrecognitory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• recognitions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of recognition

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English recognicion, either from Old French or directly from Latin recognitiōn- (stem of recognitiō ), equivalent to recognit(us) (past participle of recognōscere; see recognize) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Recognition is when you remember something or someone you're familiar with — like the flash of recognition you experience at your high school reunion. Recognition isn't just about remembering what something looks like — it's also used to describe when you remember that someone has done something special, and decide to recognize their efforts with an award or speech. This type of recognition is a form of acknowledgment, a way to say "we approve" or "good work!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

recognition recognitions

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recognition by Saudi Arabia, a regional power and home to Islam's holiest sites, would mark a "historic leap" forward for peace in the Middle East.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Stronger revenue recognition and gradual capacity expansion at its Hongyuan yard in China should support its profit, the analysts add.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Their first meeting becomes an entirely invented action sequence, replacing Homer’s quiet recognition scene with something much more physical and immediate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

The recognition celebrated not only the life of Beckham the footballer, but Beckham the cultural figure.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

He always avoided the media and never asked for any recognition.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

“The decision about how to commemorate the movement and its participants rests with the local communities who organize those recognitions, events and commemorations. That has always been the case,” the foundation’s statement said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2026

The lawyer, Tim Grace, said that Kriv had received nearly 150 commendations and recognitions and had earned two awards for saving lives.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2023

A fundraiser in Drogheda on Friday aims to boost the campaign for a statue in Gogarty's honour; it would be one of the few recognitions of her achievements in Ireland.

From BBC ● May 17, 2023

Analysts said, however, that the right would likely agree to some changes to appease voters, including on areas like expanded social rights, consumer protections and Indigenous recognitions.

From Reuters ● May 8, 2023

Among its provisions were to be found three most important compromises with the slavery interest, three most important recognitions of slavery.

From The Middle Period 1817-1858 by Burgess, John William

Related Words

• acceptance
• admission
• appreciation
• awareness
• concession
• perception
• realization
• respect
• understanding