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
Police said Cruz-Sanchez was wearing a reflective safety vest at the time and was throwing trash into the trailer, which featured flashing lights and an arrow indicator.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 30 July 2025
Elevated, sure, and reflective of a market pricing in plenty of positives.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 July 2025
That is reflective of the 141 head coaching changes just in the past two offseasons.
—Richard Obert, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025
This reduces the influence of the stopgap options and is more reflective of where the clubs’ recruitment priorities lie.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reflective
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Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 30 July 2025
Elevated, sure, and reflective of a market pricing in plenty of positives.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 July 2025
That is reflective of the 141 head coaching changes just in the past two offseasons.
—Richard Obert, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025
This reduces the influence of the stopgap options and is more reflective of where the clubs’ recruitment priorities lie.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 24 July 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 4 Aug. 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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