acknowledgment

noun

ac·​knowl·​edg·​ment ik-ˈnä-lij-mənt 

ak-, 

ig-

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 of acknowledgment

• commendation
• award
• medal
• 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

Over the weekend, a set of shows with frequent collaborator CAPYAC, a surrealist electronic dance band, was canceled in Bristol with no acknowledgment from the venue or any of the parties. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026

But while this annual celebration has historically been designed around those coming onto the island, there has been very little to no acknowledgment or honoring of the legacy families and leaders who call the island of Martha’s Vineyard home. — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

And why did the Commonwealth deny a request by Reddington, the defense attorney, to stipulate that Clancy killed her children, a formal acknowledgment of responsibility that would have focussed the trial proceedings on her criminal intent? — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Shifting standards for originality Plagiarism can be defined as the appropriation of someone else’s words or ideas without acknowledgment or compensation. — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

acknowledge + -ment

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing acknowledgment

• land acknowledgment

Rhymes for acknowledgment

• acknowledgement

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