reciprocal

[ri-sip-ruh-kuh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reciprocal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

given or felt by each toward the other; mutual: reciprocal respect.

given, performed, felt, etc., in return: reciprocal aid.

corresponding; matching; complementary; equivalent: reciprocal privileges at other health clubs.

Grammar. (of a pronoun or verb) expressing mutual relationship or action: “Each other” and “one another” are reciprocal pronouns.

inversely related or proportional; opposite.

Mathematics. noting expressions, relations, etc., involving reciprocals: a reciprocal function.

Navigation. bearing in a direction 180° to a given direction; back.

noun

something that is reciprocal to something else; equivalent; counterpart; complement.

Also called multiplicative inverse. Mathematics. the ratio of unity to a given quantity or expression; that by which the given quantity or expression is multiplied to produce unity: The reciprocal of x is 1/x.

Origin of reciprocal

1560–70; < Latin reciproc(us) returning, reciprocal + -al¹

Related formsre·cip·ro·cal·i·ty, re·cip·ro·cal·ness, nounre·cip·ro·cal·ly, adverbnon·re·cip·ro·cal, adjective, nounnon·re·cip·ro·cal·ly, adverbun·re·cip·ro·cal, adjectiveun·re·cip·ro·cal·ly, adverb

Can be confusedmutual reciprocal (see synonym study at mutual)common mutual reciprocal (see usage note at mutual)

Synonym study

1. See mutual.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for reciprocal

mutual, complementary, dependent, double, equivalent, give-and-take, twin, fellow, duplicate, correlative, coordinate, convertible, companion, changeable, corresponding, exchangeable, interchangeable, matching, reciprocative, interdependent

Examples from the Web for reciprocal

Contemporary Examples of reciprocal

His visit also included a reciprocal invitation that the pope plans to follow up on in late May.
Obama Goes to Rome Hoping to Tap Some of Pope Francis’ Popularity
Barbie Latza Nadeau
March 26, 2014
One reason for cheer is that the interim agreement has brought together the hard-liners, theirs and ours, in reciprocal dismay.
The Myth of the American Mullah
James Kirchick
December 14, 2013
The safety net is rooted in human instincts about reciprocal exchange.
When Work Disappears
Megan McArdle
June 14, 2013
And stop hugging Israel closer without looking for reciprocal moves.
Europe and the Vanishing Two-State Option
Nick Witney, Daniel Levy
May 9, 2013
Of course, for reciprocal altruism to work, it must be reciprocated.
Mark Pagel in ‘Wired for Culture’ Makes a Strong Case for Cultural Determinism
Casey Schwartz
March 4, 2012

Historical Examples of reciprocal

The feeling then was reciprocal, and he was proposed for the vacant seat.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
Their influence on us is at least reciprocal with ours on them.
Little Annie's Ramble (From "Twice Told Tales")
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Science appears to show that every physical process is reciprocal, and may be reversed.
Heroes of the Telegraph
J. Munro
The doctrine of the discourse was the reciprocal duty of pastor and people.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
If such occur, then comes in the assistance of the reciprocal insurance.
Freeland
Theodor Hertzka

British Dictionary definitions for reciprocal

reciprocal

adjective

of, relating to, or designating something given by each of two people, countries, etc, to the other; mutualreciprocal friendship; reciprocal trade

given or done in returna reciprocal favour

(of a pronoun) indicating that action is given and received by each subject; for example, each other in the sentence they started to shout at each other

maths of or relating to a number or quantity divided into one

nautical denoting a course or bearing that is 180° from the previous or assumed one

noun

something that is reciprocal

Also called: inverse maths a number or quantity that when multiplied by a given number or quantity gives a product of onethe reciprocal of 2 is 0.5

Derived Formsreciprocality, nounreciprocally, adverb

Word Origin for reciprocal

C16: from Latin reciprocus alternating

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for reciprocal

adj.

1560s, with -al (1) + stem of Latin reciprocus "returning the same way, alternating," from pre-Latin *reco-proco-, from *recus (from re- "back;" see re-, + -cus, adjective formation) + *procus (from pro- "forward;" see pro-, + -cus. Related: Reciprocally. The noun meaning "that which is reciprocal" (to another) is from 1560s.

reciprocal in Medicine

reciprocal

[rĭ-sĭp′rə-kəl]

adj.

Of or relating to a neuromuscular phenomenon in which the excitation of one group of muscles is accompanied by the inhibition of another.

Of or being a pair of crosses in which the male parent in one cross is of the same genotype or phenotype as the female parent in the other cross.

reciprocal in Science

reciprocal

[rĭ-sĭp′rə-kəl]

Either of a pair of numbers whose product is 1. For example, the number 3 is the reciprocal of 13.

reciprocal in Culture

reciprocal

The number by which a given number must be multiplied to get a result of one. The reciprocal of one-half, for example, is two.