recipient

[ri-sip-ee-uhnt]

noun

1. a person or thing that receives; receiver.

   the recipient of a prize.

adjective

1. receiving or capable of receiving.

recipient

/ rɪˈsɪpɪənt /

noun

1. a person who or thing that receives

adjective

1. a less common word for receptive

Other Word Forms

• nonrecipient adjective
• unrecipient adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recipient¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin recipient-, stem of recipiēns “receiving,” present participle of recipere “to receive”; receive

Word History and Origins

Origin of recipient¹

C16: via French from Latin recipiēns , from recipere to _receive

Example Sentences

New York will collect a license fee of at least $500 million from each recipient.

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This means messages are scrambled when they leave the sender's device and can only be read by the recipient.

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How to ensure the wine you choose will actually please its recipient and not be promptly regifted to somebody else?

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"We need to not only replace the islets that have been lost but also reset the recipient's immune system to prevent ongoing islet cell destruction. Creating a hybrid immune system accomplishes both goals."

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When forwarding an email, people often include their own take at the top—but this anchors the recipient before they have seen the original message.

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Related Words

• beneficiary