recognizance

noun

re·​cog·​ni·​zance ri-ˈkäg-nə-zən(t)s 

-ˈkä-nə-

1

a

: an obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (such as appearance in court) usually under penalty of a money forfeiture

released on his own recognizance

b

: the sum liable to forfeiture upon such an obligation

2

archaic : token, pledge

Examples of recognizance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The actor was initially arrested and released later that day on his own recognizance. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026

The suspects were released on their own recognizance and are scheduled to appear back in court on March 17 to set a preliminary hearing. —Brandon Downs, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026

He was released on a personal recognizance bond before a federal grand jury in Minnesota returned the indictment against him and eight co-defendants, all of whom are also named in Doucette’s lawsuit. —Isabel Yip, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026

Glass was credited for time spent in a state hospital and while released on his own recognizance on house arrest. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English recognissance, alteration of reconissaunce, from Anglo-French, from reconoistre to recognize

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing recognizance

• on someone's own recognizance

Kids Definition

recognizance

noun

re·​cog·​ni·​zance ri-ˈkäg-nə-zən(t)s 

-ˈkän-ə-

: a recorded legal promise to do something (as to appear in court)

Legal Definition

recognizance

noun

re·​cog·​ni·​zance ri-ˈkäg-nə-zəns 

1

: an obligation entered into on the record before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (as the paying of a debt) usually under penalty of a money forfeiture

also : the sum liable to forfeiture

2

: a simple personal obligation or undertaking (as to appear in court) entered into before a magistrate and having no money penalty attached

released on his own recognizance

Etymology

Anglo-French recognisance, reconisance, literally, recognition, from Old French reconoisance, from reconoistre to recognize, from Latin recognoscere