refractive

adjective

re·​frac·​tive ri-ˈfrak-tiv 

1

: having power to refract

2

: relating or due to refraction

refractively adverb

refractiveness noun

refractivity

ˌrē-ˌfrak-ˈti-və-tē 

ri-

noun

Examples of refractive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. —Brendan Le, People.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Similarly, measures of refractive error were most severe in children consuming the least omega-3s. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025

For a goddess-like aesthetic, trade shimmering pink for soft and refractive gold. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025

Both nearsightedness and farsightedness are refractive disorders caused by light not landing properly on the retina within the eye. —Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 6 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing refractive

• refractive index

Rhymes for refractive

• attractive
• contractive
• extractive
• inactive
• proactive
• reactive
• subtractive
• active
• tractive
• bioactive
• hyperactive
• interactive

Medical Definition

refractive

adjective

re·​frac·​tive ri-ˈfrak-tiv 

1

: having power to refract

a refractive lens

2

: relating to or due to refraction

refractive phenomena

refractive dispersion of light

refractively adverb