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Meaning & use

reflective

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/rɪˈflektɪv/
US/rɪˈflektɪv/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Giving serious, quiet thought to your own experiences or feelings.

    Grammar: Describes a person, a mood or a piece of writing: a reflective mood.

    Patterns

    • in a reflective mood
    • a reflective essay

    After the trip, she felt quiet and reflective.

    The students wrote a reflective essay about what they had learned.

    He gave a reflective answer instead of a quick one.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Able to throw back light or heat from a surface.

    Grammar: Describes a surface or material: a reflective jacket.

    Patterns

    • reflective surface
    • reflective material

    Cyclists should wear reflective jackets at night.

    The reflective glass on the building made it hard to look at.

    Reflective tape was stuck to the back of the bag.

  3. adjectiveafter a verbformal

    Showing or resulting from something else, like an indication of a situation.

    Grammar: Usually followed by of: reflective of a trend.

    Patterns

    • reflective of something

    The results are reflective of a larger trend.

    Her style is reflective of her upbringing.

Word forms

comparativemore reflective
superlativemost reflective

Common combinations

reflective mood
The old photographs put him in a reflective mood.
reflective surface
Shiny pots are a reflective surface that can dazzle you.
reflective practice
Nurses are encouraged to use reflective practice.
reflective writing
Reflective writing helps you learn from your mistakes.
reflective strip
The coat has a reflective strip across the back.

Synonyms and how they differ

thoughtful
Thoughtful can also mean kind and considerate, while reflective is about deep thinking.
contemplative
Contemplative is calmer and more spiritual, often involving long quiet attention.
pensive
Pensive suggests a slightly sad or dreamy thoughtfulness, while reflective is more neutral.
shiny
Shiny describes any glossy surface, whereas reflective focuses on bouncing back light.

Opposites

thoughtlessimpulsivematte

Word family

reflect verb
to think carefully or to throw back light
reflection noun
an image in a mirror, or serious thought
reflector noun
an object that throws back light
reflectively adverb
in a thoughtful way
reflectiveness noun
the quality of being thoughtful

Commonly confused: reflective or reflexive? reflective or refractive?

reflective vs reflexive

Reflexive describes an automatic action or a grammar form like myself, not careful thought.

reflective vs refractive

Refractive means bending light as it passes through something, while reflective means bouncing it back.

Practice

Cyclists are advised to wear ___ clothing so drivers can see them in the dark.

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