# reflection

/ɹɪˈfɫɛkʃən/ (US) · /ɹɪflˈɛkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reflection
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. image in a mirror

noun · CEFR A2

the image you see when you look in a mirror or at a shiny surface like water.

For teachers: an image produced by a mirror or other reflective surface.

- 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.

### 2. bouncing of light or sound

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the way that light, heat, or sound hits a surface and bounces back.

For teachers: the return of light, heat, or sound waves from a surface.

- 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.

### 3. serious thought

noun · CEFR B2

careful and deep thought about something that happened in the past.

For teachers: serious thought or consideration; the cognitive process of reviewing past experiences or ideas.

- 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.

### 4. a sign or result

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

something that shows the true nature or condition of a person or situation.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. computing

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the ability of a computer program to examine and change its own structure while it is running.

For teachers: 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.

### 6. anatomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of a body structure that is folded back on itself.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She looked at her reflection in the window.
- After the project ended, the team spent an hour in quiet reflection to discuss what they had learned.
- The clear mountain lake provided a perfect reflection of the surrounding peaks, while the silence of the valley encouraged a moment of profound personal reflection.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.