acknowledgment

noun

ac·​knowl·​edg·​ment ik-ˈnä-lij-mənt 

ak-

variants or acknowledgement

1

a

: the act of acknowledging something or someone

acknowledgment of a mistake

b

: recognition or favorable notice of an act or achievement

received acknowledgment for his charitable works

2

: a thing done or given in recognition of something received

an author's acknowledgments of assistance

3

law : a declaration or avowal of one's act or of a fact to give it legal validity

Synonyms

• citation
• commendation
• mention

Examples of acknowledgment in a Sentence

They made several public acknowledgments of their company's mistake.

He paid the fine without acknowledgment of his guilt.

Special acknowledgments will be made at the end of the meeting.

He has finally received the acknowledgment he deserves for his charitable work.

They presented him with an award in acknowledgment of his charitable work.

He's the first person mentioned in the book's acknowledgments.

We sent an acknowledgment that we received their letter.

He never received an acknowledgment of his payment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Film is a collaborative medium and memoir requires a certain acknowledgment of the author’s creation. —Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024

Last year, lawmakers postponed the bill with an acknowledgment that a full expansion would not be funded. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 24 Apr. 2024

Image: Elgato Neo is Elgato’s way of bringing its expertise in streaming to the masses — an acknowledgment that the line between creator and professional is increasingly blurred as more and more people dial into meetings remotely. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024

Saturday’s event included an acknowledgment of the region’s original inhabitants by Angela Elliott-Santos, chair of the Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024

The Man — on its tour to help organize such acknowledgments at each show. —Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024

Millions of us are working from home at least part of the week, which is a fairly stunning acknowledgment of the toll commuting took on us before the pandemic upended office life. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Fake elector says Mayes 'weaponizing our justice system' The Arizona electors have largely avoided public acknowledgment of the reach of Mayes' investigation, refusing to confirm if they have been subpoenaed. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024

The narrator falls into a reverie that doubles as an acknowledgment of loves that are no less real for being soon forgotten. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

acknowledge + -ment

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

acknowledgment

noun

ac·​knowl·​edg·​ment

variants also acknowledgement

ik-ˈnäl-ij-mənt 

ak-

1

a

: the act of acknowledging

b

: an act of acknowledging some deed or achievement

2

: something done or given in return for something received

Legal Definition

acknowledgment

noun

ac·​knowl·​edg·​ment

variants also acknowledgement

1

a

: the act of acknowledging

b

: the act of admitting paternity compare filiation

2

: a thing done or given in recognition of something received

an acknowledgment came in the mail

3

a

: a declaration or avowal of one's act or a fact to give it legal validity

specifically : a declaration before a duly qualified public officer (as a notary public) by a person who has executed an instrument that the execution was the person's free act and deed

b

: the formal certificate made by an officer before whom one has acknowledged a deed including as an essential part the signature and often the seal of the officer