re·flex·ive
ri-ˈflek-siv 
1
a
: directed or turned back on itself
b
: marked by or capable of reflection : reflective
2
: of, relating to, characterized by, or being a relation that exists between an entity and itself
the relation "is equal to" is reflexive but the relation "is the father of" is not
3
: of, relating to, or constituting an action (as in "he perjured himself") directed back on the agent or the grammatical subject
4
: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior
Examples of reflexive in a Sentence
Adjective
In “I hurt myself,” the verb “hurt” is reflexive.
In the sentence “We forced ourselves to finish the assignment,” the word “ourselves” is a reflexive pronoun.
For many people, the reflexive response to this kind of demand is to say no.
music that triggers reflexive toe tapping
Recent Examples on the Web
Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
The conventions and gestures of a topical potboiler—reflexive eye rolls, snap-worthy tell-offs—clearly excite him.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Jonathan Dee, Harper's Magazine, 11 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for reflexive
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Adjective
During the subsequent century, filmmakers returned to this reflexive mode of cinema for a variety of reasons, either to examine their artistic process, explore formal innovations, expose some horrible secret, or, perhaps most often, satirize the ivory-tower industry itself.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
The conventions and gestures of a topical potboiler—reflexive eye rolls, snap-worthy tell-offs—clearly excite him.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Andrew Bevel’s motivation for publishing a memoir goes beyond that reflexive droit du seigneur Ida describes.
—Jonathan Dee, Harper's Magazine, 11 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for reflexive
Cite this Entry
“Reflexive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflexive. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reflexive
1 of 2 adjective
re·flex·ive
ri-ˈflek-siv
1
: turned back upon itself
2
: of, relating to, or being an action directed back upon the doer or the grammatical subject
3
: of, relating to, or being a relation which exists between a thing and itself
the relation of equality or "is equal to" is reflexive but the relation "is the parent of" is not
4
: characterized by behavior that occurs automatically without thinking
a reflexive response
reflexively
adverb
reflexive
2 of 2 noun
: a pronoun that refers to the grammatical subject and is the object of the verb
in the sentence "We forced ourselves to finish the assignment," the word "ourselves" is a reflexive
Medical Definition
reflexive
adjective
re·flex·ive
ri-ˈflek-siv
: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior
also
: relating to or consisting of a reflex
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