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
The interior is coated with a reflective material to maximize light use.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
O’Meallie uses spray paint and a clear topcoat to give the pieces a reflective, ultra-white surface.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
The exterior is Halcyon’s Arboretum Green, which is reflective of the region’s own verdant environment, while the interior serves as complement with tan upholstery and trim of open-poor wood for a decidedly grounding aesthetic.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, April 16, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star, 42, shared a glowing photo of herself to Instagram alongside a reflective caption revealing how her comedian husband, 62, empowered her to feel more confident.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reflective
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Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
O’Meallie uses spray paint and a clear topcoat to give the pieces a reflective, ultra-white surface.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
The exterior is Halcyon’s Arboretum Green, which is reflective of the region’s own verdant environment, while the interior serves as complement with tan upholstery and trim of open-poor wood for a decidedly grounding aesthetic.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, April 16, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star, 42, shared a glowing photo of herself to Instagram alongside a reflective caption revealing how her comedian husband, 62, empowered her to feel more confident.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 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 23 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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