recognition
The act of identifying someone or something from previous knowledge or the formal acknowledgment of a person's achievements or a thing's status. It can also refer to the process of a machine or software identifying patterns or data.
Examples
3 of 5There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes when I mentioned his name.
There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes when I mentioned his name.
The government has finally granted official recognition to the indigenous group's land rights.
The government has finally granted official recognition to the indigenous group's land rights.
I walked right past him because he'd changed so much he was beyond recognition.
I walked right past him because he'd changed so much he was beyond recognition.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Look at the root 'cogn' which means 'to know' (like in 'cognition'). 'Re-' means 'again'. So, recognition is 'knowing something again' when you see it.
Quick Quiz
The city has changed _______ recognition since I was a child; I barely know my way around anymore.
Correct!
The correct answer is: beyond
Examples
There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes when I mentioned his name.
everydayThere was a flicker of recognition in her eyes when I mentioned his name.
The government has finally granted official recognition to the indigenous group's land rights.
formalThe government has finally granted official recognition to the indigenous group's land rights.
I walked right past him because he'd changed so much he was beyond recognition.
informalI walked right past him because he'd changed so much he was beyond recognition.
The paper discusses the psychological mechanisms behind pattern recognition in visual stimuli.
academicThe paper discusses the psychological mechanisms behind pattern recognition in visual stimuli.
He received a commemorative plaque in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sales team.
businessHe received a commemorative plaque in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sales team.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
win recognition
win recognition
lack of recognition
lack of recognition
international recognition
international recognition
Often Confused With
Recollection is the act of remembering a specific event or memory, while recognition is identifying something that is currently in front of you.
Usage Notes
The word is frequently used with the preposition 'of'. It can describe a physical act of seeing ('facial recognition') or an abstract act of honoring ('recognition for service').
Common Mistakes
Learners often try to say 'recognization', but the correct noun form of the verb 'recognize' is always 'recognition'.
Memory Tip
Look at the root 'cogn' which means 'to know' (like in 'cognition'). 'Re-' means 'again'. So, recognition is 'knowing something again' when you see it.
Word Origin
From Latin 'recognitio', derived from 'recognoscere', meaning 'to know again' or 'examine'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western corporate cultures, 'employee recognition' is a formal HR process involving awards and public praise to increase retention.
Quick Quiz
The city has changed _______ recognition since I was a child; I barely know my way around anymore.
Correct!
The correct answer is: beyond
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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