Reciprocity: meaning, example and synonyms
Reciprocityn. The practice of exchanging things or favors with others for mutual benefit.
Example
The trade agreement rested on reciprocity: each nation lowered its tariffs only on the condition that the other did the same.
- Part of speech
- noun
- Synonyms
- exchange, mutuality, give-and-take, interchange
- Antonyms
- one-sidedness, imbalance
- Memory tip
- Reciprocal = back and forth: you help me, I help you.
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Check yourself: Reciprocity in context
The two universities' exchange program is built on ______: for every student the first school sends abroad, it agrees to host one from its partner.
Answer: reciprocity. Sending one student for each one received is reciprocity. Meticulousness (exacting care), candor (frankness) and incongruity (mismatch) don't fit this context.
Anthropologists have observed that gift-giving in many societies depends on ______, since accepting a gift creates an obligation to return a favor of similar value.
Answer: reciprocity. An obligation to return favors of equal value is reciprocity. Prudence (caution), incongruity (mismatch) and candor (frankness) don't fit this context.