Synonyms of reflective
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
3
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflective glare
4
5
: reflecting something : indicative
… how fashion is reflective of society …—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
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.
Downtown is wet, reflective, and slippery; full of crowds that will disperse with the sunrise. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026 That is comparable to the most reflective planet in the solar system, Venus, which reflects around 75% of incident sunlight compared to the 30% reflected by Earth. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2026 That’s reflective of how management views and wants to budget for this, what frontier intelligence is actually worth to them in certain areas. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026 If a dog does come trick-or-treating, he or she should be kept on a short leash and outfitted in some reflective gear, and owners should be aware of their surroundings. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reflective

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reflective was in 1627

Cite this Entry

“Reflective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflective. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

reflective

adjective
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
ˌrē-ˌflek-ˈtiv-ət-ē, 
ri-
noun

Medical Definition

reflective

adjective
1
: capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
2
: of, relating to, or caused by reflection
reflective glare of the snow
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