Origin: Latin suffix -al
Reciprocal has 7 different meanings across 2 categories:
something (a term or expression or concept) that has an inverse relation to something else
"risk is the reciprocal of safety"
(mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7
"The reciprocal of two-fifths is five-halves because their product equals one."
hybridization involving a pair of crosses that reverse the sexes associated with each genotype
"The researcher designed reciprocal mating experiments to determine if sex-linked traits influenced plant growth in opposite directions depending on which parent carried the dominant allele."
The number obtained by dividing 1 by another given number; the result of exchanging the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.
"The reciprocal of two-fifths is five-halves, which you find by flipping the fraction to make it five over two."
In plain English: A reciprocal is something that happens back to you because of what you did first, showing mutual exchange between two people or things.
"The reciprocal between the two friends was so strong that they always supported each other through difficult times."
concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return
"reciprocal aid"
"reciprocal trade"
"mutual respect"
"reciprocal privileges at other clubs"
of or relating to the multiplicative inverse of a quantity or function
"the reciprocal ratio of a:b is b:a"
Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way.
"The reciprocal trust between the two neighbors allowed them to watch each other's homes while they were away on vacation."
In plain English: Reciprocal means something that is given, felt, or done back and forth between two people.
"The two countries signed a reciprocal trade agreement to lower tariffs for each other's goods."
Usage: Use "reciprocal" to describe actions or feelings that are mutually exchanged between parties, rather than one-sided gestures. This term specifically implies a direct return where what is given by one side is matched in kind by the other.
The word "reciprocal" comes from the Latin reciprocus, which likely originated from a phrase meaning "back and forth." It entered English with this sense of mutual exchange, combining elements that mean "back," "forward," and "and.