Word
acknowledgment
Phoneticsac·knowl·edg·ment, stress on the second syllable
US/ækˈnɑɫɪdʒmənt/
UK/ɐknˈɒlɪdʒmənt/
Definitions
01admitting the truth
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of admitting that something exists or is true.
n. the act of recognizing the existence, truth, or validity of something.
“The government's statement was a clear acknowledgment that the policy had failed.”
“The CEO's public acknowledgment of the firm's strategic errors was seen as a necessary step toward regaining investor confidence.”
Usage
Often followed by a 'that' clause or the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
02confirming receipt
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal
n. a letter or message that tells you someone has received what you sent.
n. a communication informing the sender that their message, document, or parcel has been received.
“I am still waiting for an acknowledgment of my job application.”
“The solicitor sent a formal acknowledgment of the documents, confirming they had arrived before the legal deadline.”
Usage
Commonly used in business and legal contexts.
Synonyms
03thanks or credit
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something you do or say to show thanks for help or to give credit.
n. an expression of gratitude or a public credit given to someone for their contribution.
“The author included a long list of acknowledgments at the start of the book.”
“The scientist received a special acknowledgment in the journal for her foundational research on the project.”
Usage
Often used in the plural form ('acknowledgments') in books or academic papers.
04digital signal
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a signal sent between computers to show that data was received correctly.
n. a response (often called an ACK) sent by a receiver to indicate successful receipt of a transmission.
“The system waits for an acknowledgment from the server before sending more data.”
“Network latency increased because the client failed to process the acknowledgment signals in a timely manner.”
Synonyms
05legal validation
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a formal statement that a legal document is real and valid.
n. a formal declaration or document recognizing the fulfillment of a legal requirement.
“The deed requires an acknowledgment by a public official to be valid.”
“The notary provided the necessary acknowledgment to certify that the signature on the contract was authentic.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Webber said there had not been enough acknowledgment from mental health organisations of the risk of violence.” “In Spanish, this happens through explanation and negotiation, while in Korean, it is often done through a clearer acknowledgment of fault, especially when social power is involved.” Etymology
From acknowledge + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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