receiver

noun

re·​ceiv·​er ri-ˈsē-vər 

: one that receives: such as

a

: treasurer

b(1)

: a person appointed to hold in trust and administer property under litigation

(2)

: a person appointed to settle the affairs of a business involving a public interest or to manage a corporation during reorganization

c

: one that receives stolen goods : fence

d

: a device for converting signals (such as electromagnetic waves) into audio or visual form: such as

(1)

: a device in a telephone for converting electric impulses or varying current into sound

(2)

: a radio receiver with a tuner and amplifier on one chassis

e(1)

: catcher

(2)

: a member of the offensive team in football eligible to catch a forward pass

Examples of receiver in a Sentence

She angrily slammed down the phone's receiver.

Recent Examples on the Web

Surely there were those in attendance, and those watching, who conjured horrible thoughts of Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley being left permanently paralyzed from the chest down after taking a vicious hit from the Oakland Raiders’ Jack Tatum during a 1978 preseason game. — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Turns out that there’s a receiver that connects to them via old-fashioned speaker wire and to my laptop via Bluetooth. — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

The Dolphins also could sign another receiver, the deepest remaining position in free agency, or claim one when teams trim rosters to 53. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026

The receiver hangs by its silver cord, swaying slightly in the wake of someone passing by. — Ashley Andreou, STAT, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing receiver

• receiver general
• wide receiver

Rhymes for receiver

• achiever
• believer
• deceiver
• perceiver
• reliever
• retriever
• transceiver
• cleaver
• fever
• leaver
• weaver
• unbeliever

Kids Definition

receiver

noun

re·​ceiv·​er ri-ˈsē-vər 

: one that receives: as

a

: a person appointed to take control of property that is involved in a lawsuit or of a business that is bankrupt or is being reorganized

b

: equipment for receiving radio or television broadcasts

c

: a device for changing electricity or radio waves into light or sound

d

: an offensive football player who may catch a forward pass

Legal Definition

receiver

noun

re·​ceiv·​er ri-ˈsē-vər 

1

: an officer charged with receiving tax payments or returns and other related duties (as the maintenance of tax rolls)

2

: a person appointed by the court to hold in trust and administer property in litigation

especially : one appointed to administer, conserve, rehabilitate, or liquidate the assets of an insolvent corporation for the protection or relief of creditors compare conservator, liquidator