recognizance

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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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of recognizance All the defendants were released on their own recognizance. Caleb Lunetta, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025 The children were all placed in protective custody and the parents were arrested; they were each released on their own recognizance. Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025 The other seven defendants had their arraignments, when pleas are entered, continued to November or December and were allowed to remain free on their own recognizance. Nathaniel Percy, Orange County Register, 16 Oct. 2024 Agents served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice judge, before he was released on his own recognizance. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recognizance

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Cite this Entry

“Recognizance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognizance. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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