reciprocal

[ ri-sip-ruh-kuhl ]

/ rɪˈsɪp rə kəl /

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See synonyms for: reciprocal / reciprocals on Thesaurus.com

adjective

given or felt by each toward the other; mutual: reciprocal respect.

given, performed, felt, etc., in return: reciprocal aid.

matching; corresponding; equivalent: reciprocal privileges at other health clubs.

Grammar. (of a pronoun or verb) expressing mutual relationship or action: “Each other” and “one another” are reciprocal pronouns.

inversely corresponding; opposing: reciprocal muscles in your back.

Mathematics. noting expressions, relations, etc., involving reciprocals: a reciprocal function.

Navigation. bearing in a direction 180° to a given direction; back.

noun

something that is reciprocal to something else: Faith and fear are reciprocals.

Also called multiplicative inverse. Mathematics. the ratio of unity to a given quantity or expression; that by which the given quantity or expression is multiplied to produce unity: The reciprocal of x is 1/x.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of reciprocal

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin reciproc(us) “returning, reciprocal” + -al¹

synonym study for reciprocal

1. See mutual.

OTHER WORDS FROM reciprocal

re·cip·ro·cal·i·ty

[ri-sip-ruh-kal-i-tee], /rɪˌsɪp rəˈkæl ɪ ti/, re·cip·ro·cal·ness, nounre·cip·ro·cal·ly, adverbnon·re·cip·ro·cal, adjective, nounun·re·cip·ro·cal, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reciprocal

mutual, reciprocal (see synonym study at mutual)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reciprocal in a sentence

There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She ultimately ditched JSwipe after about a week and found her current, non-Jewish, boyfriend on OkCupid.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
An atheist counsels his fellow non-believers on how not to talk to people of faith.
The Case Against In-Your-Face Atheism|Steve Neumann|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The distinction between over-policing and non-responsiveness was alive and well in Bed-Stuy.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Last summer, Louisiana also banned non-legal adoption, with offenders facing a penalty of $5,000 and up to five years in prison.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The expatriated ex-rebels became alarmed by the non-receipt of the indemnity instalment and the news from their homes.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
He also states that the Audiencia is virtually non-existent, and so there is no high court in which justice may be sought.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
De moi, je ne say qu'en dire, d'autant que je ne veux affirmer ny le si ny le non en ce dont je n'ay vidence.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Certes le capitaine Merveilles et ses gens monstrerent leur pit non vulgaire.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
It teaches you to take your time, or as the Germans call it, it gives you "Ruhe (repose)," the grand sine qua non!
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay

British Dictionary definitions for reciprocal

reciprocal

/ (rɪˈsɪprəkəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or designating something given by each of two people, countries, etc, to the other; mutualreciprocal friendship; reciprocal trade

given or done in returna reciprocal favour

(of a pronoun) indicating that action is given and received by each subject; for example, each other in the sentence they started to shout at each other

maths of or relating to a number or quantity divided into one

nautical denoting a course or bearing that is 180° from the previous or assumed one

noun

something that is reciprocal

Also called: inverse maths a number or quantity that when multiplied by a given number or quantity gives a product of onethe reciprocal of 2 is 0.5

Derived forms of reciprocal

reciprocality, nounreciprocally, adverb

Word Origin for reciprocal

C16: from Latin reciprocus alternating

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for reciprocal

reciprocal

[ rĭ-sĭp′rə-kəl ]

Either of a pair of numbers whose product is 1. For example, the number 3 is the reciprocal of 13.

Cultural definitions for reciprocal

reciprocal

The number by which a given number must be multiplied to get a result of one. The reciprocal of one-half, for example, is two.

reciprocal

Origin of reciprocal

synonym study for reciprocal

OTHER WORDS FROM reciprocal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reciprocal

Words related to reciprocal

How to use reciprocal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reciprocal

Derived forms of reciprocal

Word Origin for reciprocal

Scientific definitions for reciprocal

Cultural definitions for reciprocal