reciprocal

1 of 2

adjective

re·​cip·​ro·​cal ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl How to pronounce reciprocal (audio)
1
a
: 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
4
a
: mutually corresponding
agreed to extend reciprocal privileges to each other's citizens
b
: marked by or based on reciprocity
reciprocal trade agreements
reciprocally adverb

reciprocal

2 of 2

noun

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between reciprocity and endorsement?

Each of these words has multiple meanings, some of which are similar, and others of which are not. Reciprocity may mean "a mutual exchange of privileges" and is often applied to things such as professional certification (neighboring states may have a reciprocal agreement so that certification a worker needs is applicable in each). Endorsement may mean "sanction, approval" or simply refer to "the act or process of endorsing."

Can reciprocity be mutual?

Reciprocal and mutual share a good deal of meaning; the former may be defined as "shared, felt, or shown by both sides," and the latter as "shared in common." Based on this semantic overlap some usage guides caution against using any form of the two words (mutually reciprocal, or mutual reciprocity) together, on the grounds that it is redundant.

Is reciprocity a noun or verb?

Reciprocity is a noun. The verb form of the word is reciprocate; the adjective is reciprocal, and the adverb is reciprocally.

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
Japan is negotiating a reciprocal access agreement with the Philippines that would allow the militaries of both countries to conduct joint training and exercises, similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement that the Philippines has with the United States. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 The court’s only judge said in his ruling that the deployment was unconstitutional because the two countries lack a police-sharing reciprocal agreement. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 In spite of the violence, the film throbs with the potential of them sharing something reciprocal. Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024 Woven throughout the text is the concept of reciprocal love. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been out of the country during the violence, was in Kenya last week to sign a reciprocal agreement to allow Kenya to deploy 1,000 of its police officers to Haiti. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Henry’s trip to Kenya came after the African country’s top court ruled that a 2023 agreement to send police officers to Haiti would be unconstitutional because Kenya’s National Police Force cannot be deployed outside of the country and the two nations did not have reciprocal agreements. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 Here’s how to increase your chances of participating in a reciprocal exchange. Julia Korn, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The conflict has been initiated by the United States military against resistance groups in Iraq and Syria; and such operations are reciprocal between them. Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2024
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, 28 May 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reciprocal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin reciprocus returning the same way, alternating

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reciprocal was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near reciprocal

Cite this Entry

“Reciprocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reciprocal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reciprocal

1 of 2 adjective
re·​cip·​ro·​cal ri-ˈsip-rə-kəl How to pronounce reciprocal (audio)
1
: done, given, or felt equally by both sides
reciprocal affection
2
: related to each other in such a way that one completes the other or is the equal of the other
reciprocal agreements
reciprocally adverb

reciprocal

2 of 2 noun
1
: something in a reciprocal relationship to another
2
: either of a pair of numbers (as 9 and ⅑ or ⅔ and ³⁄₂) whose product is one

Medical Definition

reciprocal

adjective
re·​cip·​ro·​cal ri-ˈsip-rə-kəl How to pronounce reciprocal (audio)
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

Legal Definition

reciprocal

adjective
re·​cip·​ro·​cal ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl How to pronounce reciprocal (audio)
1
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 landIngham 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
reciprocally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on reciprocal

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