While reading a magazine, you ask a friend the meaning of the word suffragette. although she says that she's never used this word in speaking or writing, she knows what it means if it's part of her vocabulary

While reading a magazine, you ask a friend the meaning of the word suffragette. Although she says that she's never used this word in speaking or writing, she knows what it means it if's part of her recognition vocabulary. 
She recognizes the word, she may have seen it or heard it somewhere before but never used it herself.