recipient
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Thirteen red cards have been issued in this summer’s World Cup and Balolgun is the only recipient who has been cleared to play.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
“In effect, as the recipient of his gratitude, it’s her turn to give back and say yes to his request.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
Messages about missed deliveries usually include a link which, when clicked on, take the recipient to an official-looking website.
From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026
If a Medicaid recipient receives an inheritance, they must report it to their state Medicaid agency.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 19, 2026
As I stand two feet from the old man’s shotgun, I’m learning what the boy already knew: For the rest of her life, that little white girl would be the recipient of a priceless gift.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
