ENGLISH
REFERENCE

recipient

n. · adj.
US //ɹəˈsɪpiənt// UK //ɹɪsˈɪpiənt// re·cip·i·ent
  1. 1 one who receives (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person who gets or receives something, like an award, a letter, or an email.

    the person or entity that receives a communication, gift, or award. Often used in formal or administrative contexts.

    Example

    Please make sure the name of the recipient is spelled correctly on the envelope.

    Example

    The university announced that the recipient of the prestigious research grant would be named during the annual gala in October.

  2. 2 medical/organ (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    a person who receives a body part or blood from a donor.

    an individual who receives a transplant of an organ, tissue, or blood from a donor.

    Example

    The heart recipient is recovering well after the long surgery.

    Example

    Medical ethics require that the identity of the organ donor remains confidential unless both the family and the recipient agree to a meeting.

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  1. 3 chemistry/container (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Archaic Science

    a container used in science to collect liquids that have been heated and cooled.

    the vessel in a distillation apparatus, such as an alembic, designed to collect the condensed liquid product.

    Example

    The chemist placed a glass recipient at the end of the tube to catch the drops.

    Example

    In traditional distillation, the volatile vapours pass through the cooling neck before settling into the recipient as a purified liquid.

  2. 4 receiving (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    describing something that is in the act of receiving.

    functioning as the receiver; receptive or characterized by the act of receiving. Often used in formal or technical descriptions of systems.

    Example

    The recipient country welcomed the international aid with gratitude.

    Example

    The recipient cells were monitored closely for any signs of rejection following the introduction of the new genetic material.

    Usage

    Usually placed before the noun.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French récipient, from Latin recipiēns, present participle of recipiō (“to receive”).

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