receptionist

noun

re·​cep·​tion·​ist ri-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nist 

: a person employed to greet telephone callers, visitors, patients, or clients

Examples of receptionist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the second British hotel by the brand behind the Orient Express, and although traces of those trains can be found in the doorman’s redcoats and the receptionist’s bow tie, this is not the sort of place that requires a gown for dinner. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

The doorbell rang constantly as patient after patient walked up to the white window and the volunteer receptionist buzzed them in for their appointments. — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026

When my dad and I returned to the clinic for his first round of treatment a few days later, a receptionist handed him a thick stack of forms to sign. — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

During a recent voice receptionist deployment across numerous dental practices in the same group, each location required different call routing, ring times, after-hours escalation and training. — Manjot Pal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

receptionist

noun

re·​cep·​tion·​ist ri-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəst 

: an office employee who greets callers, answers questions, and arranges appointments