# recessive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹɪˈsɛsɪv/ · frequency rank #32,553

## Definitions
1. Going back; receding.
2. Able to be masked by a dominant allele or trait.
3. Not dominant; whose effect is masked by stronger effects.

## Etymology
From Latin recēdō + -ive, or directly from New Latin recessīvus.

## Easily confused with
- **recursive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recessive-vs-recursive)
- **reclusive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recessive-vs-reclusive)
- **repressive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recessive-vs-repressive)
- **regressive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recessive-vs-regressive)
- **receive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/receive-vs-recessive)
- **recession** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recession-vs-recessive)
- **receptive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/receptive-vs-recessive)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ercessive`, `rceessive`, `reccessive`, `recesisve`, `recesive`, `recessiev`, `recessivve`, `recessvie`, `recsesive`, `reecssive`, `rrecessive`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/recessive