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recognizance

[ ri-kog-nuh-zuh ns, -kon-uh- ]

/ rɪˈkɒg nə zəns, -ˈkɒn ə- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR recognizance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Law.

a bond or obligation of record entered into before a court of record or a magistrate, binding a person to do a particular act.
the sum pledged as surety on such a bond.

Archaic. recognition.

Archaic. a token; badge.

Origin of recognizance

1350–1400; Middle English reconissaunce, recognisance < Old French reconuissance. See recognize, -ance

Words nearby recognizance

recluse, reclusion, reco-reco, recognition, recognition factor, recognizance, recognize, recognizee, recognizor, recoil, recoil escapement

Example sentences from the Web for recognizance

He was released within the hour without a bond on his own recognizance.

What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face? |Goldie Taylor |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Williams was released on his own recognizance over the weekend and is expected back before a judge on Feb. 9, 2015.

Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault |M.L. Nestel |December 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Addison spent four nights in jail, she told me on FaceTime during a period when she was out on her own recognizance.

Let’s Free Stacey Addison, The Oregon Woman Jailed at the Ends of the Earth |Christopher Dickey |October 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Luchkiw was released on her own recognizance, as would have normally been the case in such a bust.

A Sax Player, Then a Suspect After Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Final Act |Michael Daly |February 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

She was released on her recognizance and is now back on the streets.

Amanda Bynes Wigs Out |Kevin Fallon |May 24, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
I believe the man has entered into some sort of recognizance to keep the peace, and has disappeared.

The Man Between |Amelia E. Barr
Perhaps Mr. Hooker will accept my recognizance in the amount?

Thomas Wingfold, Curate |George MacDonald
Some pay and many refuse; but such as do refuse he requires to enter into a recognizance of so much money to attend the council.

The Chronicles of Newgate, vol. 1/2 |Arthur Griffiths
William Wells, one years imprisonment, and at its expiration to enter into his own recognizance of 20l.

The Chronicles of Crime or The New Newgate Calendar. v. 2/2 |Camden Pelham
And I will enter into a recognizance for any sum to appear and prove my right if it should be disputed.

Hidden Hand |Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth

British Dictionary definitions for recognizance

recognizance

recognisance

/ (rɪˈkɒɡnɪzəns) /

noun

law

a bond entered into before a court or magistrate by which a person binds himself to do a specified act, as to appear in court on a stated day, keep the peace, or pay a debt
a monetary sum pledged to the performance of such an act

an obsolete word for recognition

Derived forms of recognizance

recognizant or recognisant, adjective

Word Origin for recognizance

C14: from Old French reconoissance, from reconoistre to recognize