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

And so, on Tuesday, the days of gratitude can end, and Dodgers fans can resume reflexively criticizing their manager and grimacing about whether they can trust anyone in their bullpen.

From Los Angeles Times

Our first look at it made my skin crawl, too, after I reflexively shielded my face.

From Salon

Jim’s drift away from the GOP began when he worked for another Republican Assembly candidate whom he remembers, distastefully, as reflexively partisan, homophobic and anti-worker.

From Los Angeles Times

“So the NIMBYs will only get one bite at the apple,” Gamba said, using the acronym for “not in my backyard” that refers to people considered reflexively opposed to development near them.

From Salon

I worry that in our reactive, reflexive move to find blame, we’re going to miss the interventions that could actually prevent this from happening again.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compulsory 
• forced 
• spontaneous 
• uncontrolled 
• unintentional