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Recipient

rih-SIP-ee-unt /rɪˈsɪp.i.ənt/

nounA2TOEFLIELTSSAT

generalbusiness

A person or entity that receives something, such as a letter, email, or award.

Implies the passive target of a sent action or object, commonly used in technical, legal, and email contexts for the person in the 'To' field.

The story behind the word. The word stems from Latin recipere, built from re- (back) and capere (to lay hold of or take). It entered French as récipient before describing anyone standing on the receiving end of goods, news, or digital messages.

Word relationships

receiver: 'Receiver' is more informal or physical, while 'recipient' is standard in formal and digital correspondence.
addressee: 'Addressee' focuses on whose name is written on the envelope or address line, whereas 'recipient' is whoever actually gets it.

sender: The 'sender' originates and dispatches the communication, while the 'recipient' receives it.

Commonly confused with

receipt: 'Receipt' is the act of receiving or a document proving purchase, whereas 'recipient' is the person receiving.

Word family

receive (verb): To get or accept something delivered.
receptive (adjective): Willing to consider or accept new ideas.

Collocations

intended recipient
email recipient
sole recipient
multiple recipients

Example sentences

"Make sure you double-check the email address of every recipient before pressing send." Email distribution lists
"She was named the recipient of the annual innovation award." Formal awards and recognitions

Memory hook

A RECIPIENT is the person who RECEIVES the SHIPMENT of your email. The target on the receiving end.

When not to use

Do not confuse with 'sender' or 'author', who originates the message.

Fun facts

In chemistry, a 'recipient' originally referred to a vessel used to receive distilled liquids before it became standard terminology for email inbox owners.