as in bail
law
a legal promise made by someone before a court of law that must be kept to avoid being punished
After his arraignment, the suspect was released on his own recognizance.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recognizance
The man was released from jail a few days after his arrest on a $1,500 personal recognizance bond while his case is pending, court records show.
—
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
Among the attendees was Nick Sortor, who was arrested outside an ICE facility in Portland last week and later released on his own recognizance.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
Cruz was taken into custody via a private person's arrest and booked on a misdemeanor battery charge before being released on his own recognizance that afternoon.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
Roughly half of the people have been released within seven days — on bail, on their own recognizance or under probation supervision.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
Among the attendees was Nick Sortor, who was arrested outside an ICE facility in Portland last week and later released on his own recognizance.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
Cruz was taken into custody via a private person's arrest and booked on a misdemeanor battery charge before being released on his own recognizance that afternoon.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
Roughly half of the people have been released within seven days — on bail, on their own recognizance or under probation supervision.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recognizance
bail
Noun
-
He was released from jail after posting $230,000 bail, and is next due in court in November.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Lehrer was again denied bail for these charges in March.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recognizance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognizance. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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