recognition

noun

rec·​og·​ni·​tion ˌre-kig-ˈni-shən How to pronounce recognition (audio)
-kəg-
Synonyms of recognition
1
: the action of recognizing : the state of being recognized: such as
a
: acknowledgment
especially : formal acknowledgment of the political existence of a government or nation
b
: knowledge or feeling that someone or something present has been encountered before
2
: special notice or attention
3
: the sensing and encoding of printed or written data by a machine
optical character recognition
magnetic ink character recognition

Examples of recognition in a Sentence

The procedure is gaining recognition as the latest advance in organ transplant surgery. The Olympic Committee gave official recognition to the sport. His smile was a recognition that things were not so bad. Her paintings received recognition from her fellow artists. All she wanted was some recognition for her work. He finally received the recognition that he deserved. They were awarded medals in recognition of their bravery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The system combines different highly sensitive sensors and software with advanced recognition technology. — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 With three Final Fours under his belt, Pump believes Mata-Real deserves recognition as one of the all-time great centers alongside Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026 There’s also a recognition that talking about England, for him, is a different type of skill to talking about something like Manchester United. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Luria boasts significant name recognition in southeastern Virginia from her time in the lower chamber, plus a massive cash advantage over her Democratic primary opponents. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recognition

Word History

Etymology

Middle English recognicion, from Anglo-French recognition, from Latin recognition-, recognitio, from recognoscere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recognition was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing recognition

Rhymes for recognition

See All Rhymes for recognition

Browse Nearby Words

recognise
recognition
recognition mark
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recognition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recognition. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

recognition

noun
rec·​og·​ni·​tion ˌrek-ig-ˈnish-ən How to pronounce recognition (audio)
ˌrek-əg-
1
: the act of recognizing
2
: acknowledgment of something done or given
got a medal in recognition of bravery
3
: formal acknowledgment of the political existence of a government or nation
4
: special attention or notice

Medical Definition

recognition

noun
rec·​og·​ni·​tion ˌrek-əg-ˈnish-ən How to pronounce recognition (audio)
: the form of memory that consists in knowing or feeling that a present object has been met before

Legal Definition

recognition

noun
rec·​og·​ni·​tion ˌre-kəg-ˈni-shən How to pronounce recognition (audio)
1
: the act, process, or fact of recognizing
2
: the state of being recognized
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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