recessive

American  

[ri-ses-iv] / rɪˈsɛs ɪv /

adjective

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

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

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

Etymology

Origin of recessive

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

Explanation

A recessive gene is a gene that can be masked by a dominant gene. In order to have a trait that is expressed by a recessive gene, such as blue eyes, you must get the gene for blue eyes from both of your parents. You might remember the word recessive from biology, where it most often appears. Its opposite is dominant and is always living in its shadow. A recessive allele has to team up with another recessive allele in order to show up. We can also use recessive to describe something that has the tendency to withdraw or recede, or something pertaining to an economic recession.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

recessive

But Mr. Franklyn-Miller has such a recessive air that he seems like he’d have difficulty commanding the average coffee shop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Some alleles are dominant, meaning their traits are expressed, while others are recessive and remain hidden when paired with a dominant allele.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 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

Later, on Talk TV, he pointed to data showing that infant mortality rates are higher for children born to cousin parents, with more heart, brain, and kidney problems due to recessive disorders.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2025

Being recessive, its expression would have been fitful.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides