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

Explanation

Something reflexive is completely involuntary. You can't help it. You might give a reflexive scream of fright if a bat flies in your face. The adjective reflexive has two very different meanings. Something that's done automatically, without thought, is reflexive. Things that refer to themselves can also be called reflexive, especially certain parts of grammar, as in this sentence: "I took extra time to prepare myself for the test." Because myself refers back to I, it's a reflexive pronoun. There's even a reflexive genre of writing, metafiction, which can be described as "fiction about fiction."

Example Sentences

"There are some people whose reflexive reaction to any kind of major event is to claim it's fake and staged, no matter what it is," Rothschild told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

It is an unusually nuanced take on a subject that too often generates reflexive fulminating or fawning, and a truly auspicious start to the New Museum’s new chapter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

For the hedge knight who inspired Baelor’s intervention, the motives are more reflexive.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026

Amit Agarwal, Slaughter’s lawyer, struggled to break through their impenetrable certitude, facing reflexive hostility at every turn.

From Slate • Dec. 8, 2025

In the mornings she teaches arithmetic to his younger pupils, and afterward spends many hours at his bright-white shirtsleeve conjugating the self-same reflexive verbs—I’homme se noie—which a year ago she declared pointless.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• compulsory
• forced
• spontaneous
• uncontrolled
• unintentional