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.
Recipient countries are refusing and returning vaccine shipments, saying they have more urgent health priorities.
From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2022
“We have among us a Gold Star spouse, a Medal of Honor Recipient, and we are distinguished civilian and military leaders. We can and must be better than this.”
From Washington Post • Jan. 19, 2022
Recipient then gets a notice —via either a text message or email— that there’s a present from gift-giver waiting for her.
From The Verge • Oct. 4, 2021
Medal of Honor Recipient Flo Groberg shared how to thrive in the face of hardship and isolation.
From Fox News • May 12, 2020
Frequently, thereafter, came pathetic references to “Dear Nephew James,” “Unknown Recipient of an Old Man’s Gratitude,” “Discerning and Admirable James,” and so on.
From At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern by Reed, Myrtle
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.
