reflection

American  

[ri-flek-shuhn] / rɪˈflɛk ʃən /

especially British, reflexion

noun

• reflections
  plural

1. 

   the act of reflecting, as in casting back a light or heat, mirroring, or giving back or showing an image; the state of being reflected in this way.

2. an image; representation; counterpart.

3. a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.

   Synonyms:

   thinking, study, cogitation, deliberation, rumination, meditation

4. a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.

5. an unfavorable remark or observation.

   Synonyms:

   criticism, reproach, aspersion, imputation

6. the casting of some imputation or reproach.

7. Physics, Optics.

   1. the return of light, heat, sound, etc., after striking a surface.

   2. something so reflected, as heat or especially light.

8. Mathematics.

   1. (in a plane) the replacement of each point on one side of a line by the point symmetrically placed on the other side of the line.

   2. (in space) the replacement of each point on one side of a plane by the symmetric point on the other side of the plane.

9. Anatomy. the bending or folding back of a part upon itself.

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reflection British  

/ rɪˈflɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected

2. something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror

3. careful or long consideration or thought

4. implicit or explicit attribution of discredit or blame

5. maths a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed or which changes the sign of one of the variables

6. anatomy the bending back of a structure or part upon itself

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reflection Scientific  

/ rĭ-flĕk′shən /

1. The change in direction of a wave, such as a light or sound wave, away from a boundary the wave encounters. Reflected waves remain in their original medium rather than entering the medium they encounter.

2. ◆ According to the law of reflection, the angle of reflection of a reflected wave is equal to its angle of incidence.

3. Compare refraction See more at wave

4. Something, such as sound, light, or heat, that is reflected.

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reflection Cultural  

1. A bouncing of light off a surface. People see themselves in mirrors through reflection. (Compare refraction.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interreflection
  noun
• nonreflection
  noun
• overreflection
  noun
• self-reflection
  noun
• superreflection
  noun
• reflectional
  adjective
• reflectionless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reflections
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reflection

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin reflexiōn-, stem of reflexiō “a bending back,” from Latin reflex(us) “bent back” (past participle of reflectere; see reflect) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Your reflection is what you see in the mirror. Other things that bounce back at you are also reflections — light waves, sound waves, even your thoughts. Reflection comes from the Latin reflectere, made up of the prefix re-, "back," and flectere, "to bend." So it's bending something back: your reflection in the mirror is the light waves that bounce your image back at you. When you pause for reflection — serious thinking, that is — your thoughts are bending inward. Reflection can also be a consequence of something: the way your dog mopes around when you're away is a reflection of how much he misses you.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reflection reflections

If films are a reflection of the world we live in, Mungiu’s film reflects a reality where objectivity is at risk of extinction.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

Mr. Schore recommends visualizations—such as imagining “your happy place” during difficult interactions—and affirmations, sometimes speaking to your own reflection.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Avoiding the traps of stuffy academic assessment or testimonial-studded tribute, O’Connor goes the immersive route, letting Hammer’s own voice accompany a deftly edited archival journey that moves easily across personal reflection and societal impact.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

A nearby private space, known as the reflection room, is available for families to mourn.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Upon reflection, I believe I owe you a fuller answer.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

The experiences and reflections vary by schools and within schools.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Bourdain’s singular reflections could only come from a life well-lived and filled with mistakes.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

AI often struggles with lighting, reflections and visual perspective.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Read our reporters' reflections from the US, Canada and Mexico and then choose from our chief football writer Phil McNulty's selections for best goal and best save.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

But before them the dark seemed to ease, enough that he could see the shiny floor and unsettling reflections that reminded him at once of the hallways of Gehinnom.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• consideration
• contemplation
• idea
• impression
• meditation
• observation
• opinion
• rumination
• view