Definitions of acknowledgement

1. The act of owning or recognizing in a particular character or relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth, or genuineness; a statement acknowledging something or someone.

2. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition; the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged; an expression of thanks.

3. the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged; " the partners were delighted with the recognition of their work"; " she seems to avoid much in the way of recognition or acknowledgement of feminist work prior to her own"