reflective

adjective

re·flec·tive | \ ri-ˈflek-tiv

Definition of reflective

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

Other Words from reflective Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about reflective

Keep scrolling for more

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

The uptick in violence over the last eight months in Dallas alone against black trans women is reflective of a national pattern. — Gina Martinez, Time, "Two Recent Murders of Black Trans Women in Texas Reveal a Nationwide Crisis, Advocates Say," 7 June 2019 Increasingly, four-year universities produce too few graduating classes that are reflective of the country’s racial, social, and economic diversity. — Stephane Kasriel, Fortune, "Why Upwork Scratched College Degree Requirements From Our Job Descriptions," 6 June 2019 The homicide number is reflective of near 40-year lows for murder seen during much of the decade, according to police data. — Jacob Soboroff, NBC News, "Despite Trump's fears, Tijuana's record violence rarely enters San Diego," 24 June 2018 There might be nothing better that speaks to the popularity of cycling in 1896 than people paying to watch a man ride on a bicycle trainer.) The more reflective reporting on the solo six-day doomed its future existence. — Todd Balf, Outside Online, "Why Haven't You Heard of Marshall "Major" Taylor?," 19 Apr. 2018 Next month, a Silicon Valley engineer plans to head out on a snowmobile from Barrow, on the northern tip of Alaska, to sprinkle reflective sand on a frozen lake to try to stop it from melting. — Katherine Ellison, WIRED, "Why Climate Change Skeptics Are Backing Geoengineering," 28 Mar. 2018 Next month, a Silicon Valley engineer plans to head out on a snowmobile from Barrow, on the northern tip of Alaska, to sprinkle reflective sand on a frozen lake to try to stop it from melting. — Katherine Ellison, San Francisco Chronicle, "Can hacking the planet ward off climate change?," 25 Mar. 2018 The heavier, more substantial glass is what gives Murano glass its extraordinary reflective quality. — Elizabeth Pash, House Beautiful, "How to Spot Genuine Murano Glass," 24 May 2019 These two sheens are easier to clean than flat paint, and less reflective than high gloss. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Build Your Own Bed Frame," 21 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reflective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.