reciprocity

/ˈrɛsəˌprɑsədi/

/rɛsɪˈprɑsɪti/

Other forms: reciprocities

When two or more people or nations have equal exchanges of goods or services, they are enjoying reciprocity, a situation where each enjoys an equal benefit from the relationship.

The background of the word reciprocity can be traced to the Latin reciprocus which means, logically enough, "moving back and forth." This is an appropriate meaning for a word that describes a system that moves goods and favors back and forth between participants, sort of a business version of the Golden Rule or, in a different light, the expression "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

Definitions of reciprocity

1. noun

   a relation of mutual dependence or action or influence
   synonyms: reciprocality

   types:

   complementarity

   the interrelation of reciprocity whereby one thing supplements or depends on the other

   correlation, correlativity

   a reciprocal relation between two or more things

   interdependence, interdependency, mutuality

   a reciprocal relation between interdependent entities (objects or individuals or groups)

   mutuality, mutualness

   a reciprocality of sentiments

   reciprocal

   something (a term or expression or concept) that has a reciprocal relation to something else

   commensalism

   the relation between two different kinds of organisms when one receives benefits from the other without damaging it

   parasitism

   the relation between two different kinds of organisms in which one receives benefits from the other by causing damage to it (usually not fatal damage)

   mutualism, symbiosis

   the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other

   sharing

   having in common

   sharing

   using or enjoying something jointly with others

   type of:

   relation

   an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
2. noun

   mutual exchange of commercial or other privileges
   type of:

   give-and-take, interchange, reciprocation

   mutual interaction; the activity of reciprocating or exchanging (especially information)