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an act of acknowledging.
recognition of the existence or truth of something:
the acknowledgment of a sovereign power.
an expression of appreciation.
a thing done or given in appreciation or gratitude.
Law.

a declaration before an official that one has executed a particular legal document.
an official certificate of a formal .
public recognition by a man of an illegitimate child as his own.

Contemporary Examples

Such ongoing military action gets almost no acknowledgement, never mind serious scrutiny.
From the Levant to Ferguson to Baltimore, The Most Violent Summer in Years Gene Robinson September 13, 2014

Don squeezed her hand the next day as a sign of friendship and acknowledgement of what had passed between them.
‘Mad Men’ Premiere: Before Season 5, Let’s Remember Season 4 Jace Lacob March 21, 2012

You might also make a point to open the event with the acknowledgement that there are multiple perspectives on an issue.
College Organizing And The BDS Controversy Rachel Cohen February 5, 2013

It is, in short, the same old dog-eared Republican playbook with nary an acknowledgement that Obama just won reelection.
Why Paul Ryan’s Star Dimmed Howard Kurtz March 20, 2013

The acknowledgement goes to the heart of a disagreement in the run-up to the Olympic Games.
Olympic ‘Black Widow’ Warning Caught U.S. Off-Guard Eli Lake January 24, 2014

Historical Examples

Mr. Spence bent forward in acknowledgement of the quotation.
A Romantic Young Lady Robert Grant

Dark sent out a call to Cheng and received an acknowledgement.
Rebels of the Red Planet Charles Louis Fontenay

No explanations; no acknowledgement of obligations to anybody.
The Snow-Burner Henry Oyen

The robot clicked its acknowledgement and moved on to the next table.
Starman’s Quest Robert Silverberg

It may easily be imagined, from my acknowledgement of these sentiments, that I eagerly embraced the popular cause.
Lady Eureka, v. 3 (of 3) Robert Folkestone Williams

noun
the act of acknowledging or state of being acknowledged
something done or given as an expression of thanks, as a reply to a message, etc
(pl) an author’s statement acknowledging his use of the works of other authors, usually printed at the front of a book
n.

1590s, “act of acknowledging,” from acknowledge + -ment. “An early instance of -ment added to an orig. Eng. vb.” [OED]. Meaning “token of due recognition” is recorded from 1610s.
n.

alternative form of acknowledgement. OED deems it “a spelling more in accordance with Eng. values of letters.”