reflex

1 of 2

noun

re·​flex ˈrē-ˌfleks How to pronounce reflex (audio)
1
a
archaic : reflected heat, light, or color
b
: a mirrored image
c
: a copy exact in essential or peculiar features
2
a
: an automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus that typically involves a nerve impulse passing inward from a receptor to the spinal cord and then passing outward from the spinal cord to an effector (such as a muscle or gland) without reaching the level of consciousness and often without passing to the brain
the knee-jerk reflex
b
: the process that culminates in a reflex and comprises reception, transmission, and reaction

called also reflex action

c
reflexes plural : the power of acting or responding with adequate speed
d
: a way of thinking or behaving
3
: a linguistic element (such as a word or sound) or system (such as writing) that is derived from a prior and especially an older element or system
boat is the reflex of Old English bāt

reflex

2 of 2

adjective

1
: directed back on the mind or its operations : introspective
2
3
: produced or carried out in reaction, resistance, or return
4
of an angle : being between 180° and 360°
5
: of, relating to, or produced by a reflex without intervention of consciousness
reflexly adverb

Examples of reflex in a Sentence

Noun reflexes such as swallowing and blinking Disagreeing with my suggestions has become almost a reflex for him. an athlete with great reflexes My reflexes are slower now that I'm older.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Coughing is a bodily reflex that offers protection from germs or irritants. Claire Gillespie, Health, 17 Mar. 2024 Authoritarian reflexes returned to the political system, which began to control more and more aspects of social life. Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2024 Vestibular test battery: A test that checks the reflex of your inner ear balance system and eye muscles. USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024 And it has been specifically engineered to enable those of us who don’t possess the razor-sharp reflexes of a gimlet-eyed pro driver to drive it fast, with confidence, on a racetrack. Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2023 None of those positions, however, involved a daily on-camera barrage from combative journalists, the kind of challenge that requires command over a dizzying array of topics and the verbal reflexes of an auctioneer. Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 In other words, cough pearls numb your airways to calm the cough reflex. Ayana Underwood, SELF, 7 Feb. 2024 The petals on Erythronium 'Pagoda' reflex to reveal a reddish ring at the base and bloom in mid to late spring. Nadia Hassani, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024 An appeal to force was an admission of failure, and the pride of the new nation was the sense of overcoming the sanguinary reflexes of the old world. TIME, 31 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Following the alleged murder, far-right figures immediately began boosting conspiracies about the beheading being a false flag in favor of the Democrats—something that has virtually become a reflex action among far-right figures following major news. David Gilbert, WIRED, 1 Feb. 2024 Related: Jarren Duran’s reflex reaction to injury ending what was fast becoming a successful season? Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023 Other times, the orcas force the sharks upside down, and a reflex triggers the fish into a paralysis-like state. Victoria Sayo Turner, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 July 2023 During that time, the other biologists woke her up, asked her questions and carried out reflex tests with her hands. Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2023 The rear reflex reflectors may detach. Detroit Free Press, 29 Aug. 2020 For instance, research published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that massaging the reflex areas in our feet and hands, also known as ‘reflexology,’ can increase vagal tone and, in turn, decrease blood pressure and heart rate levels. Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023 The cooking mechanic is just a light reflex game. Cecilia D'anastasio, Wired, 1 Oct. 2020 This year, in what many called a reflex response to California policies, a state law was fast-tracked through the Legislature and signed by the governor in February to prevent Arizona’s cities and towns from banning natural gas or other fossil fuels in buildings. Erin Stone, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reflex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin reflexus, past participle of reflectere to reflect

Adjective

Latin reflexus

First Known Use

Noun

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reflex was in 1508

Dictionary Entries Near reflex

Cite this Entry

“Reflex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflex. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reflex

1 of 2 noun
re·​flex ˈrē-ˌfleks How to pronounce reflex (audio)
1
: an automatic response to a stimulus in which a nerve message passes from a sense organ to the spinal cord and then to a point of action (as a muscle or gland) often without first passing to the brain
the knee-jerk reflex
compare habit sense 3
2
plural : the power of acting or responding with enough speed
an athlete with great reflexes

reflex

2 of 2 adjective
1
: produced in reaction, resistance, or return
2
: of, relating to, or produced by a reflex of the nervous system
reflex action
reflexly adverb

Medical Definition

reflex

1 of 2 noun
re·​flex ˈrē-ˌfleks How to pronounce reflex (audio)
1
a
: reflected heat, light, or color
b
: a mirrored image
2
a
: an automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus that involves a nerve impulse passing inward from a receptor to the spinal cord and thence outward to an effector (as a muscle or gland) without reaching the level of consciousness and often without passing to the brain
the knee-jerk reflex
b
: the process that culminates in a reflex and comprises reception, transmission, and reaction
c
reflexes plural : the power of acting or responding with adequate speed

reflex

2 of 2 adjective
1
: bent, turned, or directed back : reflected
2
: of, relating to, or produced by a reflex without intervention of consciousness
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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