Reciprocal

//ɹɪˈsɪpɹək(ə)l// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The number obtained by dividing 1 by another given number; the result of exchanging the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.

    "0.5 is the reciprocal of 2."

  2. 2
    hybridization involving a pair of crosses that reverse the sexes associated with each genotype wordnet
  3. 3
    A construction expressing mutual action.

    "Depending on where reciprocalization applies (syntax vs. lexicon), the relevant reciprocal verbs are claimed to exhibit specific properties, in particular: (i) syntactic reciprocals are fully productive whereas lexical reciprocals have only limited productivity; […]"

  4. 4
    (mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7 wordnet
  5. 5
    something (a term or expression or concept) that has an inverse relation to something else wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way. not-comparable

    "reciprocal love"

  2. 2
    Mutually interchangeable. not-comparable

    "These two rules will render a definition reciprocal with the thing defined."

  3. 3
    Expressing mutual action, applied to pronouns and verbs; also in a broad sense: reflexive. not-comparable
  4. 4
    Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities. not-comparable
  5. 5
    Done, given, felt, or owed in return. not-comparable

    "a reciprocal invitation to lunch"

Adjective
  1. 1
    of or relating to the multiplicative inverse of a quantity or function wordnet
  2. 2
    concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
correlativemultiplicative inversemutualreciprocativemultiplicative inversealgorismic

Example

More examples

"They should realize that true religious commands lie in the heart of every man in the form of his conscience, and that the most important are reciprocal esteem and a desire to help."

Etymology

From Latin reciprocus, possibly from a phrase such as reque proque (“back and forth, to and fro”), from re- (“back”), prō (“forwards”) and -que (“and”).

Related phrases

prime reciprocal magic squarereciprocal IVFreciprocal altruismreciprocal latticereciprocal pronounreciprocal proportionin returnone overtwo way

More for "reciprocal"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.