reflectivity
noun
: the reflective quality or power of a surface or material
… conducting "reflectivity tests" to see whether Saudi sand when viewed through the goggles creates a sparkling effect that disorients pilots and causes them to send their helicopters careening to the ground.—
Newsweek
Newsweek… there are many examples of luster-decorated ceramics, in which Islamic potters emulated the reflectivity of metalwork by applying metal oxides to white-glazed vessels …—Roberta Smith
Roberta SmithThe warming at the surface could be expected to melt snow and ice, reducing the earth's albedo, or reflectivity.—Roger Revelle
Roger RevelleExamples of reflectivity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In response to these concerns, SpaceX has changed the reflectivity of some of its satellites, and the company continues to emphasize that the Starlinks can be maneuvered in case of trouble.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Changing the temperature changes lots about the Earth, from the reflectivity of sea ice to the stability of permafrost.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
The Arctic is warming around four times faster than the rest of the planet in large part because its reflectivity is changing.
—Matt Simon, Wired News, 30 Aug. 2025
Based on the size and reflectivity of Earth, a coronagraph would need to achieve brightness contrasts of between 10-10 and 10-12 (between 1 part in 10 billion and 1 part in a trillion) to image an Earth-sized world at Earth-like distances around a Sun-like star.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2025
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Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Changing the temperature changes lots about the Earth, from the reflectivity of sea ice to the stability of permafrost.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
The Arctic is warming around four times faster than the rest of the planet in large part because its reflectivity is changing.
—Matt Simon, Wired News, 30 Aug. 2025
Based on the size and reflectivity of Earth, a coronagraph would need to achieve brightness contrasts of between 10-10 and 10-12 (between 1 part in 10 billion and 1 part in a trillion) to image an Earth-sized world at Earth-like distances around a Sun-like star.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reflectivity
Cite this Entry
“Reflectivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflectivity. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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