refractive

adjective

re·frac·tive ri-ˈfrak-tiv $How to pronounce refractive (audio)$

: having power to refract

: relating or due to refraction

refractively adverb

refractiveness noun

refractivity

ˌrē-ˌfrak-ˈti-və-tē $How to pronounce refractive (audio)$

ri-

noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Examples include strabismus, cataracts, refractive errors, and droopy eyelid. —

Dagny Zhu, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2023 The shimmery, futuristic, and ever-so-slightly affected era that was Y2K will continue its refractive reign in 2023, the aesthetic modernized as a study in a soft-though-playful palette. —

Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2022 The fishing mantis came by only at night, though, and appeared to have little trouble adapting to the refractive shifting that occurs when light enters the water. —

Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2018 Glasses are forgotten or broken (or resented); contacts are uncomfortable and unwearable without cleaning solution; refractive surgery carries risks and the results are not always permanent. —

Sarah Anderson, Discover Magazine, 27 Jan. 2022 Her looks also lean chameleonic, both reflective and refractive. —

Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2022 Less subtle were the likes of Kristen McMenamy, verdant glitter pressed amply into lids; Joan Smalls, who added aquamarine into the mix; and Megan Thee Stallion, who opted for refractive application of bronze. —

Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2022 This striking advance showed that metamaterials can yield a much wider set of refractive indexes than nature offers, opening the door to totally new technological possibilities. —

Andrea Alù, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2022 Then, jury president Julianne Moore balanced her splashy, sheer, and refractive Alaïa with a demure low ponytail bound in a black bow, cementing the hair ribbon as one of the year’s most enduring finishing touches. —

Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refractive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.