receptionist

[ri-sep-shuh-nist]

noun

1. a person employed to receive and assist callers, clients, etc., as in an office.

2. Theology.,  a person who advocates receptionism.

receptionist

/ rɪˈsɛpʃənɪst /

noun

1. a person employed in an office, hotel, doctor's surgery, etc, to receive clients, guests, or patients, answer the telephone, arrange appointments, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of receptionist¹

First recorded in 1865–70; reception + -ist

Example Sentences

Normally, Joseph would’ve excused herself early, since she had to be at work at 7:45 a.m. for her job as a receptionist at a private ophthalmology practice.

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The couple said they were befuddled at the interaction but figured they’d done enough to get their money; the receptionist told them to come back in a few hours to collect.

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Over the course of a hot summer day, four hairdressers and a young receptionist spar and bond with each other and a parade of customers who arrive seeking transformation both physical and spiritual.

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Is that why his receptionist was selling cookies downstairs?

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"Had the show not happened, I don't even know what I'd be doing. I have dyslexia and I'm not really great school-wise, so I think I'd be, at the best, a receptionist."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• agent 
• auditor 
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• salesperson 
• secretary 
• teller 
• worker