nonrecognizing

Nonrecognizing is an adjective that denotes lack of recognition. It can refer to cognitive failure to identify people or objects, or to a political stance in international relations whereby a state refuses to acknowledge another state or government as legitimate.

In international law and diplomacy, nonrecognition describes a deliberate policy not to acknowledge sovereignty or authority of a state, government, or regime. It is used to delegitimize governments perceived as unlawful or illegitimate, often alongside other measures such as sanctions or breakoffs in formal relations. The policy can be targeted (recognizing a state but not its government) or comprehensive (refusing to recognize both state and government). The practice arises from principles of self-determination, territorial integrity, and respect for international norms, and varies by country and context.

Within psychology or cognitive science, nonrecognizing is not a formal diagnosis; the related phenomenon is often described as prosopagnosia or facial blindness when someone cannot recognize familiar faces, or as general failures of recognition in dementia or amnesia. In casual use, nonrecognizing can describe a failure to identify people or familiar cues in social interactions.

Origin: from Latin non- + recognizing. The term is more commonly encountered as nonrecognition (noun) in legal texts, with nonrecognizing used adjectivally to describe stances, policies, or individuals who do not recognize.