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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The charges for the older of the two men carry special allegation enhancements for causing great bodily injury and for committing the crimes while out on bail or on his own recognizance, court records state.
—
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 16 May 2025
Hill was released on a personal recognizance bond, according to Colleton County jail records.
—Dianne Gallagher, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
He was released after his arrest on a personal recognizance bond of $2,262, court records show.
—Andrew Dys, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2025
Lincoln was released on her own recognizance, but a judge on Tuesday prohibited her from any contact with animals while her case is ongoing.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 16 May 2025
Hill was released on a personal recognizance bond, according to Colleton County jail records.
—Dianne Gallagher, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
He was released after his arrest on a personal recognizance bond of $2,262, court records show.
—Andrew Dys, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2025
Lincoln was released on her own recognizance, but a judge on Tuesday prohibited her from any contact with animals while her case is ongoing.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for recognizance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recognizance
bail
Noun
-
The elder Hargrove was released without bail after being arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
-
He was arrested in NYC on Sept. 16, 2024, and held at MDC Brooklyn without bail.—
Regina Cho,
VIBE.com,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recognizance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognizance. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share