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Definition

(general) Receding; going back.

(genetics)

(1) (Of, or pertaining to) An allele or a gene that is expressed in an organism’s phenotype, masking the effect of the recessive allele or gene when present.

(2) (Of, or pertaining to) An organism that expresses the recessive gene (or allele).

Supplement

In genetics, a recessive gene or allele is one in which the effect is not tangible, or is masked by the effects of the dominant gene. The recessive trait may be expressed when the recessive genes are in homozygous condition or when the dominant gene is not present. That happens when an organism inherits a pair of recessive genes from its parents.

Word origin: Latin recess(us), a withdrawal, receding part + -ive.

Related forms: recessiveness (noun), recessively (adverb).
Related terms: autosomal recessive, double recessive, recessive character, recessive gene, recessive inheritance, sex linked recessive.

Compare: dominant.