English Reference
noun

recognition

n.
US /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃən/ UK /ɹˌɛkəɡnˈɪʃən/ recog·ni·tion UK spelling recognition's, recognition's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of knowing who someone is or what something is because you have seen them before.

    the cognitive process of identifying a person, place, or thing from previous encounters or knowledge.

    Simple

    He changed so much over the years that he was almost beyond recognition.

    In context

    The witness provided a detailed description, but the passage of time had made positive recognition of the suspect difficult during the lineup.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    public praise or a reward for something good that you have done.

    formal acknowledgement or appreciation of a person's services, achievements, or abilities.

    Simple

    She finally received the recognition she deserved for her years of voluntary work.

    In context

    The researcher gained international recognition after her breakthrough study was published in a prestigious medical journal.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    the act of accepting that something is true, legal, or official.

    the formal admission or acceptance of the validity, truth, or existence of something.

    Simple

    The government's recognition of the new trade union was a huge victory for the workers.

    In context

    The diplomatic recognition of the breakaway territory remains a contentious issue among members of the international community.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    the ability of a computer or machine to identify things like faces or voices.

    the automated identification of patterns, such as text, images, or sounds, by a computer system.

    Simple

    Most modern smartphones use facial recognition to unlock the screen.

    In context

    The software uses advanced voice recognition to transcribe meetings in real time with high accuracy.

Usage achieve recognition · facilitate recognition · gain recognition

Sainsbury's has suspended its use of live facial recognition technology at one of its London branches after a customer was wrongly challenged as a shoplifter and asked to leave.

BBC News· 17 Aug 2026

Fisher might have added that neither Straus nor Rosenwald sought much recognition for their work.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026

Inherited from Middle English recognicion, from Middle French recognicion, recognition and its etymon Latin recognitiōnem (accusative of recognitiō), from recognitus, past participle of recognōscere.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin recognitiōnem
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated