receptacle

noun

re·​cep·​ta·​cle ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl 

1

: one that receives and contains something : container

2

[New Latin receptaculum, from Latin]

a

: the end of the flower stalk upon which the floral organs are borne

b

: a structure or tissue (as of a fungus or fern) bearing spores or sporangia

3

: a mounted female electrical fitting that contains the live parts of the circuit

Synonyms

• container

Examples of receptacle in a Sentence

She used the box as a receptacle for her jewelry.

place all wrappers in the trash receptacles at the entrances of the theater

Recent Examples on the Web

When one of the other creatures has gotten loose in scientist Chibuzo’s lab, the eyeball bangs on its receptacle, trying to warn her. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025

Secure commercial garbage in a bear-resistant trash receptacle. —C. A. Bridges, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025

Traditional safes and many mass market receptacles don’t offer that. —Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

At Vanguard Studios, in Mumbai, Sheth came upon drawers full of glass negatives, receptacles for the countless unnamed sitters who’d once patronized the establishment. —M. Z. Adnan, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin receptaculum, from receptare to receive, frequentative of recipere to receive

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for receptacle

• sceptical
• skeptical

Kids Definition

receptacle

noun

re·​cep·​ta·​cle ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl 

1

: something used to receive and contain smaller objects : container

2

: the enlarged end of a flower stalk upon which the parts of the flower grow