Definition of "reciprocal" in English

adjective

1. Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way.

   • reciprocal love
   • reciprocal duties

2. Mutually interchangeable.

3. (grammar) Expressing mutual action, applied to pronouns and verbs; also in a broad sense: reflexive.

4. (mathematics) Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities.

5. Done, given, felt, or owed in return.

   • a reciprocal invitation to lunch

noun

1. (arithmetic) The number obtained by dividing 1 by another given number; the result of exchanging the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.

   • 0.5 is the reciprocal of 2.

2. (grammar) A construction expressing mutual action.