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

4

: reflexive sense 3

5

: reflecting something : indicative

… how fashion is reflective of society …

—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.

Synonyms of reflective

• thoughtful
• melancholy
• contemplative

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

On June 13, hundreds of true believers gathered at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California dressed in colorful, reflective, space-age outfits to watch a film and celebrate the existence of aliens. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 29 June 2026

For outdoor workouts, look for a reflective material that catches the light. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 June 2026

This transparent pink has a reflective finish that creates a striking shine with one coat. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 27 June 2026

Some people also suggest reversing it in the winter so the reflective side faces inward to help keep some of the cold out. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reflective

• self-reflective

Rhymes for reflective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective

Kids 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

ˌrē-ˌflek-ˈtiv-ət-ē, 

ri-

noun

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