recognizance
Noun: 1. (Law) A formal promise made to a court: A legal obligation, often in writing, where a person pledges to perform a specific act required by law (such as appearing in court or keeping the peace). If the person fails to perform the act, they forfeit a specified sum of money. 2. (Law) The sum of money pledged: The financial security or bond that is forfeited if the condition of the promise is not met.
"Recognizance" is a formal legal term. It is typically used in the context of court procedures, bail, and legal obligations. It often appears in the phrase "on one's own recognizance," meaning a defendant is released from custody without having to pay bail, based solely on their promise to return to court.
- The judge released the defendant on his own recognizance because he was a first-time offender with strong community ties.
- She entered into a recognizance to keep the peace for a period of six months.
- The court set a recognizance of $5,000, which would be forfeited if he failed to appear for his trial.
- On one's own recognizance (OR): A pre-trial release without a monetary bond, based on the defendant's written promise to appear in court. This is often abbreviated as "ROR" (Released on Recognizance).
- Example: The magistrate granted her request to be released on her own recognizance.
- To enter into a recognizance / to be bound by a recognizance: The formal act of making this legal promise to the court.
- Example: The accused was bound by a recognizance to surrender his passport.
- Recognize (verb): To acknowledge or identify. In a legal historical context, it relates to entering into a recognizance.
- Recognizor (noun, archaic): The person who enters into a recognizance.
- Recognizee (noun, archaic): The person in whose favor a recognizance is made (often the state or court).
- Bond: A sum of money paid as bail or security.
- Surety: A person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, such as appearing in court.
- Pledge: A solemn promise or undertaking.
- Guarantee: A formal promise or assurance.
"Recognizance" is a specialized term almost exclusively used in legal contexts. Its common use in modern English is primarily in the fixed phrase "on (one's) own recognizance." The spelling recognisance is a British English variant.
- (law) a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited