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 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

Your wife must love that poem and the acknowledgment of the disparity between how men are just, like, acknowledged and applauded for just being a father out in public with their kids and the way women are just expected to be that way. — Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

That inconsistency deserves thoughtful examination and acknowledgment of the impact of that inconsistency has on child victims. — Keith Wortz, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

Though the district’s attempt to reverse the rescission failed, Sacramento City Unified largely focused on the state’s acknowledgment that the teachers agreement would have improved its financial position. — Chaewon Chung august 11, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

The statement wouldn’t be so condescendingly winking if the theorist’s contributions to their field weren’t drawn, word for word, from the academic work of the late Lauren Berlant, the first person thanked in the book’s acknowledgments. — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 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