recognizance

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of recognizance Although a judge did find probable cause for their arrests on Monday, they were released on their own recognizance with no charges pending. Abby Monteil, Them., 2 Sep. 2025 All three suspects, who pleaded not guilty and have since been released on their own recognizance (RoR), live at the Toledo address, per the outlet. Becca Longmire, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025 However, the records also indicate that the officer was granted release from the Butler County Jail on his own recognizance. Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Aug. 2025 After his arraignment on charges of falsifying business records in New York in 2023, he was released on his own recognizance – without putting up any cash. Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recognizance
bail
Noun
  • Robinson is currently being held without bail and is set to be formally charged on Tuesday.
    Richard Hall, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Nasir was booked into Salt Lake County Jail and ordered to be held without bail, according to documents.
    Riley Hoffman, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recognizance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognizance. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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