reflective
adjective
re·flec·tive
ri-ˈflek-tiv 
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
: marked by reflection : thoughtful, deliberative
3
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflective glare
5
: reflecting something : indicative
how fashion is reflective of society—
Glenda Bailey
Glenda Bailey
reflectively
adverb
reflectiveness
noun
Did you know?
Reflective people are people who reflect on things--that is, look back at things that have been done or said in order to think calmly and quietly about them. Most reflective people would agree with Socrates that (as he told the jury that would soon sentence him to death) "The unexamined life is not worth living". Reflective people tend to be a bit philosophical and intellectual. But almost everyone has reflective moods; gazing into a fireplace or a campfire seems to do it to almost everyone.
Examples of reflective in a Sentence
the reflective glare of the shiny metal
She was in a very reflective mood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adding reflective tape to costumes or bags, wearing bright colors and carrying a flashlight or glow stick can help drivers see trick-or-treaters.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
One sports a reflective jacket, similar to the ones worn by construction workers.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
This test—steeped in the texts of the Great Tradition—pushes students and schools to treat assessments not as a bureaucratic hoop or a mechanism of exclusion, but as a gateway to deep, reflective learning and engagement with timeless lessons that form both mind and soul.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Many, however, will likely appreciate how well the film reflects not the early-1980s Bruce but the one circa the 2020s, who’s become remarkably reflective and honest about himself in his autumn years.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reflective
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
One sports a reflective jacket, similar to the ones worn by construction workers.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
This test—steeped in the texts of the Great Tradition—pushes students and schools to treat assessments not as a bureaucratic hoop or a mechanism of exclusion, but as a gateway to deep, reflective learning and engagement with timeless lessons that form both mind and soul.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Many, however, will likely appreciate how well the film reflects not the early-1980s Bruce but the one circa the 2020s, who’s become remarkably reflective and honest about himself in his autumn years.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reflective
Cite this Entry
“Reflective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflective. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reflective
adjective
re·flec·tive
ri-ˈflek-tiv
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
: marked by reflection : thoughtful
3
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflectively
adverb
reflectiveness
noun
reflectivity
noun
ˌrē-ˌflek-ˈtiv-ət-ē
ri-
Medical Definition
reflective
adjective
re·flec·tive
ri-ˈflek-tiv
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflective glare of the snow
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share