nonrecognition
|non-rec-og-ni-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˌrɛkəɡˈnɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˌrɛkəɡˈnɪʃən/
refusal to acknowledge
Etymology
'nonrecognition' originates from Modern English, formed from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') + 'recognition', which comes from Latin 'recognitio' derived from 'recognoscere' where 're-' meant 'again' and 'gnosc/gnos-' meant 'to know or recognize'.
'recognition' passed into Middle English via Old French (e.g. Old French 'recognicion','recognition'), and the compound 'nonrecognition' developed in later modern English by adding the productive negative prefix 'non-' to the noun 'recognition'.
Initially related to 'the act of recognizing again' or 'identification', but with the addition of 'non-' it evolved to mean 'the act of not recognizing' or 'refusal to acknowledge'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or state of not recognizing or acknowledging someone or something.
The company's nonrecognition of the employee's achievements hurt morale.
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Noun 2
a formal refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy or existence of a state, government, or authority (often used in diplomatic or legal contexts).
The country's nonrecognition of the breakaway region had major diplomatic consequences.
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Last updated: 2025/12/21 21:20