Word
reciprocal
Phoneticsre·cip·ro·cal, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹɪˈsɪpɹəkəɫ/
UK/ɹɪsˈɪpɹəkəl/
Definitions
01mutual or two-way
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describes a feeling or action that is shared by two people or groups; if you do something for someone, they do the same for you.
adj. describing a relationship, feeling, or action that is mutual and experienced or performed by each party toward the other.
“The two countries signed a reciprocal trade agreement to help both their economies.”
“Although they were competitors, there was a reciprocal respect between the two scientists that allowed for productive collaboration.”
Antonyms
02grammar
C2 · Proficiency Law Technical
adj. describes words like 'each other' that show two people are doing the same thing to one another.
adj. denoting a pronoun or verb that expresses a mutual action or relationship between the subject and the object.
“In the sentence 'They helped each other,' the phrase 'each other' is a reciprocal pronoun.”
“The linguist noted that the language lacks a distinct reciprocal verb form, relying instead on reflexive markers to convey mutual action.”
Synonyms
03mathematics
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. the number you get when you divide 1 by another number.
n. the mathematical value obtained by dividing one by a given quantity, or by inverting a fraction.
“The reciprocal of 2 is 0.5, and the reciprocal of 5 is 1/5.”
“To divide by a fraction, the student must first determine its reciprocal and then perform a multiplication.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“On Monday, Trump's tariff threats to Canada's auto industry followed Carney declaring the country would counter his levies with reciprocal tariffs on US goods "dollar for dollar".” “The attraction between the Paris-born 43-year-old and the camera tends to be reciprocal.” Etymology
From Latin reciprocus, possibly from a phrase such as reque proque (“back and forth, to and fro”), from re- (“back”), prō (“forwards”) and -que (“and”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/reciprocal