reflexive

[ri-flek-siv]

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.

noun

1. Grammar.,  a reflexive verb or pronoun.

reflexive

/ 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

noun

1. a reflexive pronoun or verb

reflexive

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of reflexive¹

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

Example Sentences

Kevin Roberts said that “conservatives should feel no obligation to reflexively support any foreign government, no matter how loud the pressure becomes from the globalist class or from their mouthpieces in Washington.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Patriotism was ennobling, self-sacrifice was reflexive; heroism was rewarded, and everybody was proudly in this fight together.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Conservatives should feel no obligation to reflexively support any foreign government,” he said, referring to Israel, “no matter how loud the pressure becomes from the globalist class or from their mouthpieces in Washington.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If the right fails to move from reflexive blame and division to adaptation and reform, it risks repeating the same mistakes in 2026.

Read more on Salon

Leger-Walker knows there will be moments when she can almost reflexively help her team.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compulsory 
• forced 
• spontaneous 
• uncontrolled 
• unintentional