reciprocal

[ ri-sip-ruh-kuh l ]

/ rɪˈsɪp rə kəl /

SEE 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.

Words nearby reciprocal

recip., recipe, recipience, recipiency, recipient, reciprocal, reciprocal exchange, reciprocal inhibition, reciprocal insurance, reciprocal leveling, reciprocal transfusion

Origin of reciprocal

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

OTHER WORDS FROM reciprocal

re·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, adverb

un·re·cip·ro·cal, adjectiveun·re·cip·ro·cal·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reciprocal

mutual reciprocal (see synonym study at mutual)common mutual reciprocal (see usage note at mutual)

synonym study for reciprocal

1. See mutual.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
The safety net is rooted in human instincts about reciprocal exchange.
When Work Disappears|Megan McArdle|June 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And stop hugging Israel closer without looking for reciprocal moves.
Europe and the Vanishing Two-State Option|Nick Witney, Daniel Levy|May 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
We parted with reciprocal expressions of regret and benediction.
Travels in the Interior of Africa, Vol. 2 [of 2]|Mungo Park
The reciprocal movement of these two cylinders is therefore a matter which demands the keenest possible attention.
Practical Lithography|Alfred Seymour
By reciprocal obligations of help, defense, and redress of injuries.
Ancient Society|Lewis Henry Morgan
Then you are happy enough to be the object of a reciprocal feeling which for myself I could scarcely expect.
With Edged Tools|Henry Seton Merriman
They had therefore a reciprocal effect on the national poetry, and were developed side by side with it.
Life Of Mozart, Vol. 3 (of 3)|Otto Jahn

British Dictionary definitions for reciprocal

reciprocal

/ (rɪˈsɪprəkəl) /

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 forms of reciprocal

reciprocality, 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

Medical definitions for reciprocal

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.

Scientific definitions for reciprocal

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.

Cultural definitions for reciprocal

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.

reciprocal

adjective

noun

Words related to reciprocal

Words nearby reciprocal

Origin of reciprocal

OTHER WORDS FROM reciprocal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reciprocal

synonym study for reciprocal

Examples from the Web for reciprocal

British Dictionary definitions for reciprocal

adjective

noun

Derived forms of reciprocal

Word Origin for reciprocal

Medical definitions for reciprocal

adj.

Scientific definitions for reciprocal

Cultural definitions for reciprocal