receptionist

noun

re·​cep·​tion·​ist ri-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nist How to pronounce receptionist (audio)
: a person employed to greet telephone callers, visitors, patients, or clients

Examples of receptionist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Now Miss Manners has a question of her own: Is this decision being made by the proprietor of the business, his wife or the receptionist who claims to know what everybody is doing these days? Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025 And after a quick phonecall, where the receptionist urged them to get to the surgery as soon as possible, Pablo was whisked into care. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 Since the 1960s when author Craig Claiborne, who started his career in food journalism as a receptionist for Gourmet Magazine, imagined a regular dining section and a four-star scale system to rate restaurants, the food critics’ ultimate goal has been to remain anonymous. Sylvie Bigar, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 Mealing, who used to work as a medical receptionist in a pediatric neurosurgeon’s office before her diagnosis and now volunteers for the American Cancer Society, went on Medicaid after going on short-term disability. Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for receptionist

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of receptionist was in 1901

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Cite this Entry

“Receptionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/receptionist. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

receptionist

noun
re·​cep·​tion·​ist ri-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəst How to pronounce receptionist (audio)
: an office employee who greets callers, answers questions, and arranges appointments

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