Examples of recognizance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He was later released on his own recognizance pending trial.
—
ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
He was released on a personal recognizance bond, pending his next court hearing on April 10.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Medina was arrested for shoplifting in June 2023 and released on a personal recognizance bond, according to court records.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
O'Malley has pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
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ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
He was released on a personal recognizance bond, pending his next court hearing on April 10.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Medina was arrested for shoplifting in June 2023 and released on a personal recognizance bond, according to court records.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
O'Malley has pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Cite this Entry
“Recognizance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recognizance. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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