recessive

American  

[ri-ses-iv] / rɪˈsɛs ɪv /

adjective

1. tending to go, move, or slant back; receding. recede.

2. Genetics. of or relating to a recessive.

3. Phonetics. (of an accent) showing a tendency to recede from the end toward the beginning of a word.

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noun

Genetics.

1. that one of a pair of alternative alleles whose effect is masked by the activity of the second when both are present in the same cell or organism.

2. the trait or character determined by such an allele.

recessive British  

/ rɪˈsɛsɪv /

adjective

1. tending to recede or go back; receding

2. genetics

   1. (of a gene) capable of producing its characteristic phenotype in the organism only when its allele is identical

   2. (of a character) controlled by such a gene Compare dominant

3. linguistics (of stress) tending to be placed on or near the initial syllable of a polysyllabic word

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noun

1. genetics

   1. a recessive gene or character

   2. an organism having such a gene or character

recessive Scientific  

/ rĭ-sĕs′ĭv /

1. Relating to the form of a gene that is not expressed as a trait in an individual unless two such genes are inherited, one from each parent. In an organism having two different genes for a trait, the recessive form is overpowered by its counterpart, or dominant, form located on the other of a pair of chromosomes. In humans, lack of dimples is a recessive trait, while the presence of dimples is dominant.

2. See more at carrier inheritance Compare dominant

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Other Word Forms

• nonrecessive adjective
• recessively adverb
• recessiveness noun
• unrecessive adjective
• unrecessively adverb

Etymology

Origin of recessive

1665–75; < Latin recess ( us ) ( recess ) + -ive

Example Sentences

This has enriched rare functional variation, including recessive disorders and homozygous loss-of-function mutations, or “human knockouts.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Pattinson has the more recessive role but his performance is so subtle and clever that it’s worth watching closely.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2025

The most obvious way that a pair of blood-related parents might increase health risks for a child is through a recessive disorder, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2025

Shy and recessive in person, Mr. Montana was nonetheless a born showman.

From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2024

When the dominant allele was present, the recessive allele seemed to disappear, but when a plant received two recessive alleles, the allele reiterated its character.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee