reflexive

American  

[ri-flek-siv] / rɪˈflɛk sɪv /

adjective

1. Grammar.

   1. (of a verb) taking a subject and object with identical referents, as shave in I shave myself.

   2. (of a pronoun) used as an object to refer to the subject of a verb, as myself in I shave myself.

2. reflex; responsive.

3. able to reflect; reflective.

4. Mathematics.

   1. noting a relation in which each element is in relation to itself, as the relation “less than or equal to.”

   2. (of a vector space) having the property that the dual space of the dual space of the given vector space equals the given vector space.

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noun

1. Grammar. a reflexive verb or pronoun.

reflexive British  

/ rɪˈflɛksɪv, ˌriːflɛkˈsɪvɪtɪ /

adjective

1. denoting a class of pronouns that refer back to the subject of a sentence or clause. Thus, in the sentence that man thinks a great deal of himself , the pronoun himself is reflexive

2. denoting a verb used transitively with the reflexive pronoun as its direct object, as the French se lever "to get up" (literally "to raise oneself") or English to dress oneself

3. physiol of or relating to a reflex

4. logic maths (of a relation) holding between any member of its domain and itself Compare irreflexive nonreflexive

   "… is a member of the same family as …" is reflexive

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noun

1. a reflexive pronoun or verb

reflexive Scientific  

/ rĭ-flĕk′sĭv /

1. Of or relating to a mathematical or logical relation such that, for any given element, that element has the given relation to itself. Equality in mathematics is a reflexive relation, since a = a for all a, whereas the relation of being 'less than' is not, since it is not true that a

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Other Word Forms

• reflexively adverb
• reflexiveness noun
• reflexivity noun
• semireflexive adjective
• semireflexively adverb
• semireflexiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of reflexive

First recorded in 1580–90, reflexive is from the Medieval Latin word reflexīvus turned back, reflected. See reflex, -ive

Example Sentences

He runs through the familiar GenAI hazards—hallucinations, bias, privacy concerns and the challenge of regulation—yet refuses to indulge reflexive skeptics and their “grave reservations.”

From The Wall Street Journal

That outlook produces the type of humor that isn’t going for reflexive laughter or stringing one rock solid punchline to the next.

From Salon

When we reflexively smile upon observing someone else’s joy, we feel their happiness.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dodger devoured the apple, and Sue giggled reflexively as his lips tickled her hand.

From Literature

Another time, noting the angled front wheels of a parked car, Harvey checked his pace reflexively.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• compulsory
• forced
• spontaneous
• uncontrolled
• unintentional