Acknowledgment
Part of speech: noun
Definition: The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning; confession. The act of owning or recognized in a particular character or relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth, or genuineness. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition; expression of thanks - Shakespeare Something given or done in return for a favor, message, etc. - Tobias Smollett A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper officer. Also, the certificate of the officer attesting such declaration.
Recognition
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the act of recognizing or the condition of being recognizedan awareness that something observed has been observed beforeacceptance as valid or trueofficial acceptance of the status of a new government by that of another countryhonour, favourable note, or attention
Example sentence: I think what you're seeing is a profound recognition on the part of the American people that gays and lesbians and transgender persons are our brothers, our sisters, our children, our cousins, our friends, our co-workers, and that they've got to be treated like every other American. And I think that principle will win out.