A reciprocal action or agreement involves two people or groups who do the same thing to each other or agree to help each another in a similar way.
[formal]
They expected a reciprocal gesture before more hostages could be freed.
Many countries have reciprocal agreements for health care.
Synonyms: mutual, corresponding, reciprocative, reciprocatory More Synonyms of reciprocal
reciprocallyadverb
Both sides had reciprocally observed restraints.
English Easy Learning GrammarReflexive pronounsReflexive pronouns are used: person singular plural 1st2nd3rd masculine3rd feminine3rd neuterGeneral myselfyourselfhimselfherselfitselfoneselfourselvesyourselvesthemselvesthemselvesthemselves ... Read more
reciprocal in British English
(rɪˈsɪprəkəl)
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or designating something given by each of two people, countries, etc, to the other; mutual
reciprocal friendship
reciprocal trade
2.
given or done in return
a reciprocal favour
3.
(of a pronoun) indicating that action is given and received by each subject; for example, each other in the sentence they started to shout at each other
4. mathematics
of or relating to a number or quantity divided into one
5. nautical
denoting a course or bearing that is 180° from the previous or assumed one
noun
6.
something that is reciprocal
7. Also called: inverse mathematics
a number or quantity that when multiplied by a given number or quantity gives a product of one
the reciprocal of 2 is 0.5
Derived forms
reciprocality (reˌciproˈcality)
noun
reciprocally (reˈciprocally)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin reciprocus alternating
reciprocal in American English
(rɪˈsɪprəkəl)
adjective
1.
done, felt, given, etc. in return
hoping for a reciprocal favor
2.
present or existing on both sides; each to the other; mutual
to feel a reciprocal affection
3.
corresponding but reversed or inverted
4.
equivalent or interchangeable; corresponding or complementary
5. Grammar
expressing mutual action or relation
“each other” is traditionally called a reciprocal pronoun
6. Ancient Mathematics
of the reciprocals of quantities, or their relations
noun
7.
anything that has a reciprocal action on or relation to another; complement, counterpart, equivalent, etc.
8. Ancient Mathematics
the quantity resulting from the division of 1 by the given quantity; quantity which multiplied by the given quantity equals 1 (Ex.: the reciprocal of 7 is 1⁄7, of 1⁄7 is 7)
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmutual
Derived forms
reciprocality (reˌciproˈcality) (rɪˈsɪprəˈkæləti)
noun
reciprocally (reˈciprocally)
adverb
Word origin
< L reciprocus, returning, reciprocal < *reco-prokos, backwards and forwards < *recos (< re-, back + *cos < ?) + IE *proko-, ahead (> Gr proka, forthwith) < base *pro-, forward, ahead + -al
Examples of 'reciprocal' in a sentence
reciprocal
Most have reciprocal arrangements with other universities.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This system works because reciprocal exchanges are expressed as kinship obligations.
Harris, Marvin Cultural Anthropology (1995)
The reciprocal agreement was that the burial would take place in the country of the majority of victims.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
There is no good reason why existing reciprocal arrangements that suit both sides over such matters as health should not continue.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What to listen to: the reciprocal arrangement is that passengers choose the music.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Australia has a reciprocal arrangement with Britain.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Members also have access to a portfolio of 200 luxury properties through reciprocal agreements with other organisations.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The parties involved may be firms or governments, and the reciprocal agreements can take a number of forms.
Maurice D. Levi International Finance: The markets and financial management of multinational business. (1983)
Hospitals were told to charge patients who were found not to be resident in Britain or from countries with reciprocal arrangements.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Since then more than 60 officers on both sides have been sent to serve alongside their counterparts in reciprocal exchange programmes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The arrangement will be reciprocal.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We have written to the club to ask them to reach reciprocal arrangements with other teams, to apply some common sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
British galleries and museums are not used to coughing up for loans, most of which are free or on a reciprocal arrangement.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Australia has reciprocal arrangements with the UK but only for emergency treatment.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One can engage in reciprocal exchange using money, as when a friend gives you a loan and does not specify when it must be repaid.
Harris, Marvin Cultural Anthropology (1995)
He was also involved in setting up reciprocal health agreements with a number of countries including the Soviet Union.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Executives sat on each other's boards in a bewildering network of reciprocal arrangements between companies, banks and politicians.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Rumours had been swirling for weeks that bidders for 2018 were making reciprocal arrangements with countries hoping to win 2022 by swapping votes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
reciprocal
British English: reciprocal ADJECTIVE
A reciprocal action or agreement involves two people or groups who do the same thing to each other or agree to help each another in a similar way.
They expected a reciprocal gesture before more hostages could be freed.
American English: reciprocal
Brazilian Portuguese: recíproco
Chinese: 相互的
European Spanish: recíproco
French: réciproque
German: gegenseitig
Italian: reciproco
Japanese: 相互の
Korean: 상호간의
European Portuguese: recíproco
Latin American Spanish: recíproco
(adjective)
Definition
given or done in return
They expected a reciprocal gesture before more hostages could be freed.
Synonyms
mutual
The East and West can work together for mutual benefit.
corresponding
March and April sales this year were up 8 per cent on the corresponding period last year.
reciprocative
reciprocatory
exchanged
equivalent
One hand is equivalent to four inches.
alternate
complementary
Many plain tiles and complementary borders are available.
interchangeable
His greatest innovation was the use of interchangeable parts.
give-and-take
interdependent
correlative
Opposites
one-way
,
unilateral
,
unreciprocated
Additional synonyms
in the sense of complementary
Definition
forming a complement
Many plain tiles and complementary borders are available.
Synonyms
matching,
companion,
corresponding,
compatible,
reciprocal,
interrelating,
interdependent,
harmonizing
in the sense of corresponding
March and April sales this year were up 8 per cent on the corresponding period last year.
Synonyms
equivalent,
matching,
answering,
similar,
related,
correspondent,
identical,
complementary,
synonymous,
reciprocal,
analogous,
interrelated,
correlative
in the sense of equivalent
Definition
having the same or a similar effect or meaning
One hand is equivalent to four inches.
Synonyms
equal,
even,
same,
comparable,
parallel,
identical,
alike,
corresponding,
correspondent,
synonymous,
of a kind,
tantamount,
interchangeable,
of a piece with,
commensurate,
homologous
Synonyms of 'reciprocal'
reciprocal
Explore 'reciprocal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of interchangeable
His greatest innovation was the use of interchangeable parts.