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

And that little acknowledgment may be enough to make taking over the platform a less desirable direction for likely more cautious buyers like Disney that may want the technology but wish to distance itself from the brand. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026

The White House accord is an important acknowledgment that biosecurity belongs at the center of the AI safety conversation. — Raj Panjabi, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Donut did not answer two queries sent to its press-contact email address; a second query sent to a PR firm Donut seems to have hired more recently did get an acknowledgment, but not any answers. — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026

Receiving the rose was a public acknowledgment that the recipient – usually a warrior – stood beside the pope in protecting the church. — Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 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