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

The morning may feel more somber and reflective, yet by midday, the vibe smooths into something more cooperative and actionable. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026

All the new iPhones feature screens with a pixel density of 460 pixels per inch (ppi), an always-on display, an anti-reflective coating, a 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. —Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026

This question, about the ending of the Throne of Glass series and the sacrifice made by the character Aelin, prompted one of Maas’s more reflective answers of the rapid-fire segment. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026

In the doc, which is produced by Blink Films and is being distributed internationally by Blue Ant in both a feature-length and series format, the two stars both have reflective moments. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 5 Mar. 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