reflector

noun

re·​flec·​tor ri-ˈflek-tər 

1

: one that reflects

especially : a polished surface for reflecting light or other radiation

2

: a telescope in which the principal focusing element is a mirror

Examples of reflector in a Sentence

safety devices such as bicycle reflectors

Reflectors are placed along the lanes of the highway.

Recent Examples on the Web

These telescopes are ready to use right out of the box, and there is no need to collimate a mirror, which is often out of alignment in reflectors. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 Nov. 2025

Basically, think of them like spidey bike reflectors scattered throughout a web. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025

At an altitude of 625 kilometers, an 18-meter reflector — even if optimally curved to focus that light down onto the Earth’s surface — would create a spot of light just-under 6 km across on Earth’s surface. —Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025

The reflector shield’s diameter is just less than 32 inches, and the hottest areas are typically within a few feet of the base. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reflector

• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• detector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• elector

Kids Definition

reflector

noun

re·​flec·​tor ri-ˈflek-tər 

1

: one that reflects

especially : a polished surface for reflecting light or heat

2

: a telescope in which the principal light-gathering element is a mirror

Medical Definition

reflector

noun

re·​flec·​tor ri-ˈflek-tər 

: one that reflects

especially : a polished surface for reflecting light or other radiation