Recognition/ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/2Social Context Use when you suddenly realize who someone is or remember something. It took me a moment, but then I had a flash of recognition. Pro Tip 2/2Not Just Visual Recognition can be through any senses, like recognizing a voice on the phone. I heard laughter and, with instant recognition, knew it was my brother.