reciprocal

re·cip·ro·cal | \ ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl

Definition of reciprocal

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : inversely related : opposite

b : of, constituting, or resulting from paired crosses in which the kind that supplies the male parent of the first cross supplies the female parent of the second cross and vice versa

2 : shared, felt, or shown by both sides

3 : serving to reciprocate : consisting of or functioning as a return in kind the reciprocal devastation of nuclear war

4a : mutually corresponding agreed to extend reciprocal privileges to each other's citizens

b : marked by or based on reciprocity reciprocal trade agreements

reciprocal

noun

Definition of reciprocal (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : something in a reciprocal relationship to another

2 : either of a pair of numbers (such as ²/₃ and ³/₂ or 9 and ¹/₉) whose product is one broadly : multiplicative inverse

Other Words from reciprocal Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about reciprocal

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

In Latin, reciprocus means "returning the same way" or "alternating". So in a reciprocating engine, like the one in your car, the pistons move back and forth, and that motion is transformed into the rotary motion of the crankshaft. A reciprocal is a pair of numbers (such as 5/6 and 6/5) that can be multiplied to produce 1. Reciprocity (with the accent on the third syllable) between two nations means they agree to recognize certain things granted in one country as being valid in the other—for example, your driver's license.

Examples of reciprocal in a Sentence

Adjective the two nations agreed to give reciprocal work rights to each other's citizens, thus facilitating the daily border crossings of workers from both countries

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective In Becoming Animal, David Abram writes about the reciprocal experience between humans and the natural world. — Tessa Love, Longreads, "California Burning," 8 Nov. 2019 Over time, what began as a reciprocal practice based in religion and tradition became increasingly regulated. — David Banks, The Conversation, "Why doesn’t the US just send Anne Sacoolas back to the UK? Here’s what’s at stake in this dispute over diplomatic immunity," 1 Nov. 2019 The company also urged the Trump administration to take account of the forthcoming WTO decision on Boeing, saying those reciprocal tariffs could exceed the value of the U.S. sanctions. — Los Angeles Times, "Trump plans tariffs on EU goods after winning a $7.5-billion WTO ruling," 2 Oct. 2019 Everything is connected in the limbic system, if not through direct reciprocal connections, then through neuromodulatory systems. — Dean Mobbs, Scientific American, "On the Nature of Fear," 20 Sep. 2019 Trump has imposed or threatened to impose tariffs on all three markets in his pursuit of free, fair and reciprocal trade. — Darlene Superville, chicagotribune.com, "Trump shares ‘second thoughts’ about China tariffs, but White House later says his only regret is not hiking them higher," 25 Aug. 2019 This is calculated by taking the reciprocal of R0 and subtracting it from 1. — Quanta Magazine, "The Unforgiving Math That Stops Epidemics," 26 Oct. 2017 Instead, the recent flurry of reciprocal moves suggested that the two sides might try to escape their deepening conflict by agreeing first on a partial deal while continuing talks aimed at a comprehensive settlement. — Washington Post, "China calls off rise in tariffs on U.S. soybeans and pork as trade overtures resume," 15 Sep. 2019 There is also the reciprocal aspect of the trust equation: having faith in voters. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, "The Democrats’ Trust Exercise," 15 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun For now, one hint that TKV may have an edge is that the reciprocals of the series of angles produced by the model, unlike those in the older model, follow a nearly periodic progression. — Quanta Magazine, "What’s the Magic Behind Graphene’s ‘Magic’ Angle?," 28 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reciprocal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about reciprocal

Dictionary Entries near reciprocal

Statistics for reciprocal

Last Updated

23 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Reciprocal.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reciprocal. Accessed 5 December 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for reciprocal

reciprocal

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of reciprocal

—used to describe a relationship in which two people or groups agree to do something similar for each other, to allow each other to have the same rights, etc.

See the full definition for reciprocal in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reciprocal

noun

re·cip·ro·cal | \ ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl

Kids Definition of reciprocal

: one of a pair of numbers (as 9 and ¹/₉, ²/₃ and ³/₂) whose product is one

reciprocal

adjective

re·cip·ro·cal | \ ri-ˈsip-rə-kəl

Medical Definition of reciprocal

1 : inversely related

2 : of, constituting, or resulting from paired crosses in which the kind that supplies the male parent of the first cross supplies the female parent of the second cross and vice versa

3 : shared, felt, or shown by both sides

Keep scrolling for more

reciprocal

adjective

re·cip·ro·cal | \ ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl

Legal Definition of reciprocal

1a : mutual sense 2

b : bilateral a reciprocal contract

2 : characterized by correspondence or equivalence especially in return or response with another of the same category an … agreement permitting the reciprocal use of each other's land — Ingham v. Block, 351 S.W.3d 96 (2011) also : marked by such correspondence or equivalence between its own components a reciprocal arrangement

3 : marked by reciprocity between states

Keep scrolling for more