# recipient

/ɹəˈsɪpiənt/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈɪpiənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/recipient
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. one who receives

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- Please make sure the name of the recipient is spelled correctly on the envelope.
- The university announced that the recipient of the prestigious research grant would be named during the annual gala in October.

### 2. medical/organ

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The heart recipient is recovering well after the long surgery.
- Medical ethics require that the identity of the organ donor remains confidential unless both the family and the recipient agree to a meeting.

### 3. chemistry/container

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

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

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

- The chemist placed a glass recipient at the end of the tube to catch the drops.
- In traditional distillation, the volatile vapours pass through the cooling neck before settling into the recipient as a purified liquid.

### 4. receiving

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing something that is in the act of receiving.

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

- The recipient country welcomed the international aid with gratitude.
- 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.

## Examples

- She was the lucky recipient of the first prize.
- The hospital confirmed that the organ recipient is recovering well after the successful transplant surgery.
- The university maintains a strict privacy policy regarding the personal data of every scholarship recipient to ensure their academic records remain confidential.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.