The history of the term recognition is traced from its philosophical roots through its varied usages in psychoanalysis. Illustrated is Hegel's introduction of the term, Lacan's emphasis on misrecognition, the central place accorded to recognition in Winnicott's developmental scheme, Benjamin's mutual recognition, recognition processes identified by infant researchers, and recognition as the term used by the Boston Change Process Study Group. It is concluded that the term recognition as it is used in psychoanalysis is a hybrid concept, which makes comparison between analytic schools complex.