# reflective

/ɹɪˈfɫɛktɪv/ (US) · /ɹɪflˈɛktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reflective
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. sending back light or heat

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a surface that sends back light, heat, or sound.

For teachers: capable of reflecting light, heat, or sound; returning energy to its source.

- Cyclists often wear reflective vests so that drivers can see them at night.
- The building's reflective glass facade was designed to reduce heat absorption during the peak summer months, significantly lowering cooling costs.

### 2. thinking deeply

adjective · CEFR B2

thinking quietly and seriously about things that happened in the past.

For teachers: characterised by or given to deep, serious, or contemplative thought.

- After the long trip, he was in a reflective mood and thought about his future.
- The author's latest memoir is deeply reflective, offering a nuanced analysis of how her early failures shaped her eventual success.

### 3. showing or revealing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing or being a sign of a particular situation or feeling.

For teachers: serving to reflect or indicate a specific state, quality, or condition.

- The low test scores were reflective of the fact that the students were tired.
- The sudden decline in luxury car sales is reflective of a broader cooling in the global economy and shifting consumer priorities.

### 4. computing

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing a computer program that can look at and change its own code while it is running.

For teachers: referring to the ability of a process to examine, introspect, and modify its own structure and behaviour at runtime.

- The software uses reflective programming to update its features without stopping.
- By employing reflective techniques, the framework can dynamically discover and instantiate classes based on configuration files provided at runtime.

## Examples

- She was in a reflective mood after the long meeting.
- The safety vest is made of highly reflective material to ensure workers are visible to drivers at night.
- His latest collection of essays offers a reflective look at how urban architecture influences the social habits of its inhabitants over several generations.

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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.