English Reference

Word

recognition

Phoneticsrecog·ni·tion

US/ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃən/

UK/ɹˌɛkəɡnˈɪʃən/

Definitions

01identifying someone or something

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

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

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

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

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

02praise and thanks

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

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

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

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

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

Antonyms

03acceptance of truth or status

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal

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

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

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

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

Antonyms

04technology/computing

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Computing Technical

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

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

“Most modern smartphones use facial recognition to unlock the screen.”

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

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “recognition” in context.

Verb

01. achieve recognition

“The young scientist worked tirelessly to achieve recognition for her groundbreaking research.”

verb + noun

02. facilitate recognition

“The new software uses advanced algorithms to facilitate recognition of faces in low light.”

verb + noun

03. gain recognition

“It took several years for the artist to gain recognition from the international community.”

verb + noun

04. receive recognition

“Volunteers deserve to receive recognition for the vital role they play in our society.”

verb + noun

05. require recognition

“Certain legal documents require recognition by a notary to be considered valid.”

verb + noun

Real-World Examples

“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

Etymology

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.

Word family

NOUN

recognition(B2)

This entry

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
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference