receptacle

noun

re·​cep·​ta·​cle ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl How to pronounce receptacle (audio)
1
: one that receives and contains something : container
2
[New Latin receptaculum, from Latin]
a
: the end of the flower stalk upon which the floral organs are borne
b
: a structure or tissue (as of a fungus or fern) bearing spores or sporangia
3
: a mounted female electrical fitting that contains the live parts of the circuit

Examples of receptacle in a Sentence

She used the box as a receptacle for her jewelry. place all wrappers in the trash receptacles at the entrances of the theater
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The truck was stopped outside William Rogers Middle School in Kings Park around 6:30 a.m. when someone spotted a man inside the truck’s trash receptacle, WABC reported. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025 The votes are then treated like all the others, placed one by one on a plate that sits over an urn used to hold ballots and then tipped into the receptacle. Nbc News, NBC news, 7 May 2025 According to a 2023 report, the Postal Service has experienced significant growth in mail theft from mail receptacles. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 Only plug one heat-producing appliance into a receptacle outlet at a time. Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for receptacle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin receptaculum, from receptare to receive, frequentative of recipere to receive

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of receptacle was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Receptacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/receptacle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

receptacle

noun
re·​cep·​ta·​cle ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl How to pronounce receptacle (audio)
1
: something used to receive and contain smaller objects : container
2
: the enlarged end of a flower stalk upon which the parts of the flower grow

More from Merriam-Webster on receptacle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!