reflective
adjective
re·flec·tive
ri-ˈflek-tiv 
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
: marked by reflection : thoughtful, deliberative
3
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflective glare
5
: reflecting something : indicative
how fashion is reflective of society—
Glenda Bailey
Glenda Bailey
reflectively
adverb
reflectiveness
noun
Did you know?
Reflective people are people who reflect on things--that is, look back at things that have been done or said in order to think calmly and quietly about them. Most reflective people would agree with Socrates that (as he told the jury that would soon sentence him to death) "The unexamined life is not worth living". Reflective people tend to be a bit philosophical and intellectual. But almost everyone has reflective moods; gazing into a fireplace or a campfire seems to do it to almost everyone.
Examples of reflective in a Sentence
the reflective glare of the shiny metal
She was in a very reflective mood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Packed with reflective pearls and blurring pigments, the tint aims to minimize color imperfections while hydrating and evening your skin tone.
—Averi Baudler, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Practice reflective silence—After receiving feedback, take a moment to process before responding.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Even worse, birds often crash into reflective windows, perceiving them as a continuation of the sky.
—Anelise Chen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2025
But on Monday night, the 69-year-old took a few moments to turn reflective.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reflective
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Averi Baudler, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Practice reflective silence—After receiving feedback, take a moment to process before responding.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Even worse, birds often crash into reflective windows, perceiving them as a continuation of the sky.
—Anelise Chen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2025
But on Monday night, the 69-year-old took a few moments to turn reflective.
—Cj Moore, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reflective
Cite this Entry
“Reflective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflective. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reflective
adjective
re·flec·tive
ri-ˈflek-tiv
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
: marked by reflection : thoughtful
3
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflectively
adverb
reflectiveness
noun
reflectivity
noun
ˌrē-ˌflek-ˈtiv-ət-ē
ri-
Medical Definition
reflective
adjective
re·flec·tive
ri-ˈflek-tiv
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflective glare of the snow
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