Hi,
What’s the difference between “receiver” and “recipient”?
(I think the latter sounds more formal :))
A recipient is generally a person who receives gifts and communications.
A receiver can be the same, but it’s usually an electronic device that receives signals (such as a radio or a telephone headset), or in American football it is the player who is good at being in the right place to catch the ball that is thrown. A receiver can also be a person who receives stolen goods, or he can be the person whom the court appoints to manage the financial affairs of someone who is bankrupt.
So, if you buy a radio and give it to John, he is the recipient of a receiver.
If you STEAL a radio and give or sell it to John, he would be the receiver of a receiver.
If a football coach is given a player who is good at catching the ball, the coach is the recipient of a receiver.
If this football player who can catch the ball well goes bankrupt, and I’m appointed to manage his finances, then I’m the receiver of a receiver.
Is that clear?
I was the receiver/recipient of a receiver, which came in a small recipient.
Does ‘receiver’ have a sence of almsgiven such as freeloader while ‘recipient’ doesn’t?
No, I wouldn’t say so. There doesn’t have to be any implication of charity when a person is a receiver. We talk about “receivers of charity” or “charity recipients”. They’re the same thing.
Thank you, Jamie, always.