recognize

/ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/

//ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"recognize" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“recognize” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,908 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#2,908
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

recognize vs recognized
90% similar
recognize vs recognise
89% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for recognize
PropertyValue
Headwordrecognize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/
Letters9
Frequency rank#2,908
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “recognize” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). recognize lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for recognize is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,908 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for recognize, with forms such as "ercognize", "rceognize", and "reccognize". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "recognized", "recognise", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Middle French reconoistre, from Old French reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, first attested in the 16th century. Displaced native English acknow (“to recognize, perceive as”), compare German erkennen and Swedish erkänna. Latin had rare rec… The correct English form is recognize, spelled R-E-C-O-G-N-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
  2. 2
    To acknowledge the existence or legality of; to treat as valid or worthy of consideration.
  3. 3
    To acknowledge or consider (as being a certain thing or having a certain quality or property).
  4. 4
    To realize or discover the nature of something; apprehend quality in.
  5. 5
    To show formal appreciation of, as with an award, commendation etc.
  6. 6
    To review; to examine again.
  7. 7
    To reconnoiter.
  8. 8
    To have the property to bind to specific antigens.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French reconoistre, from Old French reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, first attested in the 16th century. Displaced native English acknow (“to recognize, perceive as”), compare German erkennen and Swedish erkänna. Latin had rare recognizare (“to try by jury”).

This word in other languages

reconocer(Español)reconnaître(Français)erkennen(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ercognize,rceognize,reccognize,recgonize,recoggnize,recoginze,recogniez,recognizze,recognnize,recognzie,recongize,reocgnize,rrecognize

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of recognize - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ercognize2rceognize2reccognize1recgonize2recoggnize1recoginze2recogniez2recognizze1
Edit distance from "recognize"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "recognize"?
"recognize" is spelled R-E-C-O-G-N-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/.
What does "recognize" mean?
As a verb, "recognize" means: To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
What words are commonly confused with "recognize"?
"recognize" is commonly confused with "recognized", "recognise". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "recognize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "recognize" is /ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "recognize"?
Borrowed from Middle French reconoistre, from Old French reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, first attested in the 16th century. Displaced native English acknow (“to recognize, perceive as”), compare German erkennen and Swedish erkänna. Latin ha... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “recognize”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-C-O-G-N-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “recognized” - see the side-by-side comparison. recognize vs recognized
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list