re·cip·ro·cal
ri-ˈsi-prə-kəl 
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
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
broadly
: multiplicative inverse
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
Selina Wang, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
Although the existing tariff levels—19 percent for Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand, and 20 percent for Vietnam—remain unchanged, the reciprocal agreements detail new provisions, including zero tariffs for select goods, and stricter environmental and labor compliance terms.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for reciprocal
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Adjective
The framework deal from July lowered the reciprocal rate to 15% and that will be maintained.
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
Although the existing tariff levels—19 percent for Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand, and 20 percent for Vietnam—remain unchanged, the reciprocal agreements detail new provisions, including zero tariffs for select goods, and stricter environmental and labor compliance terms.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
According to the researchers’ simulations, if was the number of sticks selected randomly, the chance of not having a valid triangle among them was the reciprocal of the first Fibonacci numbers multiplied together.
—Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for reciprocal
Cite this Entry
“Reciprocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reciprocal. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reciprocal
1 of 2 adjective
re·cip·ro·cal
ri-ˈsip-rə-kəl
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
reciprocal
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
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
1
a
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 land—Ingham v. Block, 351 S.W.3d 96 (2011)
Ingham 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
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