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

Refuse receptacles/compactor and surrounding enclosure is not clean and/or free of unnecessary items and litter. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Aug. 2025

Empty garbage bins and recycling from all rooms—not just the kitchen and bath—and don’t forget special receptacles like compost, diaper pails, and litter boxes. —Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025

Midair refueling is always a precise and skilled maneuver, but possibly even more so for B-2 pilots, Jamali said, as the refueling receptacle is located considerably behind the cockpit, limiting the pilots' visibility. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025

The only meal with a plethora of dedicated receptacles? —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 21 July 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