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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Recent Examples of recognizance
She was released on $5,000 personal recognizance, the police said.
—
Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
On Friday, a judge released Lemon on his own recognizance.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
Immigration officials detained him there, releasing him on his own recognizance the same day, the filing said.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
Lemon was released on his own recognizance with the promise to return to court, LA Mayor Karen Bass said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
On Friday, a judge released Lemon on his own recognizance.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
Immigration officials detained him there, releasing him on his own recognizance the same day, the filing said.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
Lemon was released on his own recognizance with the promise to return to court, LA Mayor Karen Bass said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recognizance
bail
Noun
-
Ramstead is due back in court Friday for a bail review hearing.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The Indiana Public Defender Council doesn’t believe Indiana has to make a change to its bail system, Stock said.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recognizance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognizance. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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