What does "recognizance" mean?
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.
Recognizance
noun
noun ·4 syllables ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: 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.
- Grammar: recognizance is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: agreement, arrangement, bail, bond.
- Useful contrasts: cash bail, informal promise, nonbinding pledge.
- Usage evidence: The defendant was released on his own recognizance.
How to use "recognizance"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "recognizance" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "recognizance" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "recognizance" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "recognizance" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "agreement" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 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. countable, uncountable
"The defendant was released on his own recognizance."
- 2 (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 wordnet
- 3 A token; a symbol; a pledge. countable, uncountable
"That recognizance and pledge of love / Which I first gave her."
- 4 Acknowledgment of a person or thing; avowal; profession; recognition. countable, uncountable
Antonyms
cash bailinformal promisenonbinding pledgesurety bond
Example
"The defendant was released on his own recognizance."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "recognizance"?
Common synonyms include: agreement, arrangement, bail, bond, bond, commitment.
How do you use "recognizance" in a sentence?
The defendant was released on his own recognizance.
Etymology
From Middle English reconisaunce, from Old French reconissance. Doublet of reconnaissance.