Word
reflection
Phoneticsre·flec·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹɪˈfɫɛkʃən/
UK/ɹɪflˈɛkʃən/
Definitions
01image in a mirror
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. the image you see when you look in a mirror or at a shiny surface like water.
n. an image produced by a mirror or other reflective surface.
日本語:影※
“He stopped to look at his reflection in the shop window.”
“The mountain's snowy peak was perfectly captured in the still reflection of the lake below.”
02bouncing of light or sound
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the way that light, heat, or sound hits a surface and bounces back.
n. the return of light, heat, or sound waves from a surface.
日本語:反射※
“The white walls help with the reflection of light in the dark room.”
“The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence, a fundamental principle in the study of optics.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03serious thought
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. careful and deep thought about something that happened in the past.
n. serious thought or consideration; the cognitive process of reviewing past experiences or ideas.
日本語:反省※
“After some reflection, she decided to apologize for her mistake.”
“On closer reflection, the manager realized that the initial failure was actually due to a lack of clear communication within the team.”
Synonyms
04a sign or result
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic
n. something that shows the true nature or condition of a person or situation.
n. a manifestation or outcome that serves as a representative indicator of a specific condition or trait.
“The high grades are a reflection of how hard the students worked.”
“The decline in local crime rates is a direct reflection of the new community outreach programmes implemented last year.”
Synonyms
05computing
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. the ability of a computer program to examine and change its own structure while it is running.
n. the process by which a computer program can observe and modify its own structure and behavior at runtime.
“The developer used reflection to inspect the properties of the object.”
“Using reflection allows the framework to instantiate classes dynamically without knowing their names at compile time.”
Synonyms
06anatomy
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a part of a body structure that is folded back on itself.
n. the folding back of a part or a membrane upon itself.
“The doctor pointed to the reflection of the membrane in the diagram.”
“The surgical procedure required careful dissection near the peritoneal reflection to avoid damaging the underlying organs.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reflection” in context.
Adjective
01. accurate reflection
“The survey results provide an accurate reflection of public opinion on the new policy.”
adj + noun
02. direct reflection
“The increase in sales is a direct reflection of the team's hard work over the last quarter.”
adj + noun
03. reflection direct
Real-World Examples
“The paper also quotes the prime minister: "It's a moment of reflection, reflecting on how much things came to this".” “UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the death of a high-profile Black academic accused of plagiarism and falsifying his achievements should serve as a “moment of reflection”.” “It’s a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how things came to this.” “It holds up a mirror to society."
Not everyone has welcomed the reflection though.” Etymology
From Middle French reflexion, reflection, and its source Late Latin reflexio, from the participle stem of reflectō. The current spelling is influenced by reflect. Equivalent to reflect + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/reflection
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0