Standard Lemma guide

recognizance

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: R IH0 K AA1 N AH0 Z AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A form of bail; a promise made by the accused to the court that they will attend all required judicial proceedings and will not engage in further illegal activity or other prohibited conduct as set by the court.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

Examples

  • The defendant was released on his own recognizance.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recog

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A token; a symbol; a pledge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An acknowledgment of a person or thing; an avowal; a profession; a recognition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

(law) a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recognisance

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: security, surety

Narrower terms: bail, bail bond, bond

History

Etymology

From Middle English reconisaunce, from Old French reconissance. Doublet of reconnaissance.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Irish: cúirtbhanna — a promise to the court
  • Manx: argid quaiyllee — a promise to the court
  • Punjabi: ਮੁਚੱਲਕਾ (mucallakā) — a promise to the court
  • Russian: обяза́тельство, да́нное суду́ (objazátelʹstvo, dánnoje sudú) — a promise to the court
  • Spanish: fianza — a promise to the court
  • Spanish: promesa legal — a promise to the court
  • Spanish: caución juratoria — a promise to the court
  • Spanish: obligación contraída — a promise to the court
  • Irish: coraíocht — a token, a symbol
  • Russian: си́мвол (símvol) — a token, a symbol
  • Russian: эмбле́ма (embléma) — a token, a symbol