recognised

Recognised is the standard British English past participle and attributive adjective of the verb recognise. In American English the corresponding form is recognized. The core sense is to identify someone or something from prior knowledge, or to acknowledge the existence, validity, or legitimacy of something. As a participle it appears in tenses such as “She recognised the pattern” and in passive constructions like “the recognised authorities.” As an adjective it denotes official acknowledgement or acceptance, for example a recognised expert or a recognised standard. The word is common in formal writing, law, government, education, and journalism, where authority or legitimacy is important.

Origins: The verb recognise derives from Latin recognoscere, re- + cognoscere “to know again,” and entered English via Old French reconoistre. The British spelling retains -ise and -ised forms, while American usage favours -ize and -ized (recognize, recognized). Related terms include recognition (the act of recognizing), recognisable/recognizable (capable of being recognised) and recognisance (a formal acknowledgement of obligation in legal contexts).

Usage notes: recognise is also used with abstract concepts, e.g., “recognised as a leader,” “recognised internationally,” and in phrases like “widely recognised practice.” The term should not be confused with similarly spelled words in other languages.

Recognised thus functions across identifying, acknowledging, and legitimising contexts, with spelling and related forms differing between British and American English.