recipient
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of recipient
First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin recipient-, stem of recipiēns “receiving,” present participle of recipere “to receive”; see receive
Explanation
A recipient is the person on the receiving end of something. Meryl Streep is the recipient of more Academy Award nominations than any other actor. Just as an actor can be the recipient of a prize for acting, a banker can be the recipient of a bonus for good banking. You'll notice the connection between recipient and receive. In order to be a recipient you have to receive something, whether it's a prize or just a letter in the mail. If it's true that it's better to give than to receive, does that mean it's better to be a giver than a recipient?
Vocabulary lists containing recipient
Academy Awards, List 1
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This Week In Words: March 29–April 4, 2020
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"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Your recipient will open it and probably be a little confused.
From Slate • May 17, 2026
She was also the recipient of the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest cultural award.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
In Illinois and other U.S. states, child support is not considered taxable income for the recipient or the donor, regardless of whether it’s paid in regular monthly installments or as a single lump sum.
From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026
Prosecutors say the businessman, himself a U visa recipient, acted as the go-between.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
Now, in Reykjavik, despite being the recipient of numerous acts of kindness and generosity, Bobby began finding fault, negatively overgeneralizing, and snapping at those who’d shown him the most loyalty.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
