Reflective vs. Reflexive

By Jaxson

  • Reflective (adjective)

    That reflects, or redirects back to the source.

    “Mirrors are reflective.”

  • Reflective (adjective)

    Pondering, especially thinking back on the past.

    “He always becomes reflective in preparation for the new year.”

  • Reflective (adjective)

    Involving reflection.

  • Reflective (adjective)

    Reciprocal.

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    Referring back to the subject, or having an object equal to the subject.

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    Of a relation R on a set S, such that xRx for all members x of S (that is, the relation holds between any element of the set and itself).

    “”Equals” is a reflexive relation.”

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    Of or resulting from a reflex.

    “The electric shock elicited an automatic and reflexive response from him.”

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    Producing immediate response, spontaneous.

    “a reflexive dislike”

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    synonym of reflective

  • Reflexive (noun)

    A reflexive pronoun.

  • Reflexive (noun)

    A reflexive verb.

Wiktionary
  • Reflective (adjective)

    providing a reflection; capable of reflecting light or other radiation

    “reflective glass”

    “reflective clothing”

  • Reflective (adjective)

    produced by reflection

    “a colourful reflective glow”

  • Reflective (adjective)

    relating to or characterized by deep thought; thoughtful

    “a quiet, reflective, astute man”

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    denoting a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the clause in which it is used, e.g. myself, themselves.

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    (of a verb or clause) having a reflexive pronoun as its object (e.g. wash oneself).

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    (of a relation) always holding between a term and itself.

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    (of a method or theory in the social sciences) taking account of itself or of the effect of the personality or presence of the researcher on what is being investigated.

  • Reflexive (adjective)

    (of an action) performed as a reflex, without conscious thought

    “at concerts like this one standing ovations have become reflexive”

  • Reflexive (noun)

    a reflexive word or form, especially a pronoun.

Oxford Dictionary

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