What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Respective vs Reciprocal - What's the difference?

respective | reciprocal |

As adjectives the difference between respective and reciprocal

is that respective is relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own while reciprocal is of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way.

As a noun reciprocal is

of a number, the number obtained by dividing 1 by the given number; the result of exchanging the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.

respective

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
    • They returned to their respective places of abode.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=August 23 , author=Alasdair Lamont , title=Hearts 0-1 Liverpool , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Adam and Novikovas swapped long-range efforts, neither of which troubled the respective keepers.}}
  • (obsolete) Noticing with attention; careful; wary.
  • * Archbishop Sandys
    • If you look upon the church of England with a respective eye, you can not refuse this charge.
  • (obsolete) Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
    • the respective connections of society
  • (obsolete) Fitted to awaken respect.
  • * 1599 , , IV. iv. 192:
    • What should it be that he respects in her / But I can make respective in myself,
  • (obsolete) Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.
  • * Chapman
    • With respective shame, rose, took us by the hands.
  • * Lord Burleigh
    • With thy equals familiar, yet respective .

    Synonyms

    * (relating to particular persons or things) corresponding, relevant, specific

    Derived terms

    * respectiveness * irrespective

    reciprocal

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • 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
  • * Shakespeare
    • Let our reciprocal vows be remembered.
  • Mutually interchangeable.
  • * I. Watts
    • These two rules will render a definition reciprocal with the thing defined.
  • (grammar) Reflexive; applied to pronouns and verbs, but sometimes limited to pronouns that express mutual action.
  • (math) Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities.
  • contrary or opposite

    • Synonyms

    * mutual, two-way * contrary, opposite, converse, inverse, inverted, cross * See also

    Related terms

    * reciprocity

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (arithmetic) Of a number, the number obtained by dividing 1 by the given number; the result of exchanging the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.
    • 0.5 is the reciprocal of 2.

    Synonyms

    * (in arithmetic) multiplicative inverse