recipient

noun

re·​cip·​i·​ent ri-ˈsi-pē-ənt How to pronounce recipient (audio)
Synonyms of recipientnext
: one that receives : receiver
recipient adjective

Examples of recipient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For this reason, users should always check how much the recipient will be transferred before confirming a payment. Jason Phillips, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026 All recipients are welcome to print out The Athletic’s website and hang it on their refrigerators. Jeff Howe, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026 Past recipients are Ellen DeGeneres, Norman Lear and Ryan Murphy. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026 Federal law says scholarship recipients may only use the money for qualified expenses, which include tuition, fees, books, school supplies, room and board, uniforms, transportation, computer technology and internet access. Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recipient

Word History

Etymology

Latin recipient-, recipiens, present participle of recipere

First Known Use

1558, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recipient was in 1558

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recipient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recipient. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

recipient

noun
re·​cip·​i·​ent ri-ˈsip-ē-ənt How to pronounce recipient (audio)
: one that receives
the recipient of many honors
recipient adjective

Medical Definition

recipient

noun
re·​cip·​i·​ent ri-ˈsip-ē-ənt How to pronounce recipient (audio)
: an individual who receives biological material (as blood or an organ) from a donor

More from Merriam-Webster on recipient

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