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
Aries season is in full swing through the 19th, bringing a surge of forward momentum, physical energy, and the desire to begin again after March's more reflective tone.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
That’s partly explained by chef de cuisine Bill Wang, previously the sous chef at Rich Table, who grew up in Taiwan and cut his teeth at Rustic Canyon in Los Angeles, but is also likely reflective of history and geography — the Bay Area has one of the largest Asian populations in the country.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
Silent Way continues in this tack while finding room for more reflective work to pad between the highs.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
The ice is naturally reflective, sending some of the sun’s rays back out to space.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reflective
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Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
That’s partly explained by chef de cuisine Bill Wang, previously the sous chef at Rich Table, who grew up in Taiwan and cut his teeth at Rustic Canyon in Los Angeles, but is also likely reflective of history and geography — the Bay Area has one of the largest Asian populations in the country.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
Silent Way continues in this tack while finding room for more reflective work to pad between the highs.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
The ice is naturally reflective, sending some of the sun’s rays back out to space.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reflective
Cite this Entry
“Reflective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflective. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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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