acknowledgment Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
    recognition; acknowledgement.
    • the partners were delighted with the recognition of their work
    • she seems to avoid much in the way of recognition or acknowledgement of feminist work prior to her own
  2. noun a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
    reference; mention; citation; credit; cite; quotation.
    • the student's essay failed to list several important citations
    • the acknowledgments are usually printed at the front of a book
    • the article includes mention of similar clinical cases
  3. noun a statement acknowledging something or someone
    acknowledgement.
    • she must have seen him but she gave no sign of acknowledgment
    • the preface contained an acknowledgment of those who had helped her

WordNet

Ac*knowl"edg*ment noun
Definitions
  1. The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning; confession. "An acknowledgment of fault." Froude.
  2. The act of owning or recognized in a particular character or relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth, or genuineness.
    Immediately upon the acknowledgment of the Christian faith, the eunuch was baptized by Philip. Hooker.
  3. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition; expression of thanks. Shak.
  4. Something given or done in return for a favor, message, etc. Smollett.
  5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper officer. Also, the certificate of the officer attesting such declaration. Syn. -- Confession; concession; recognition; admission; avowal; recognizance.

Webster 1913