Added 9 October 2026
reflexive
/ɹɪˈflɛksɪv/ adjective
Latin root: reflexīvus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about reflexive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Referring back to the subject, or having an object equal to the subject.
-
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, as it holds for all possible x; "not less" is non-reflexive because it is true only for some x and y, "unequal" is irreflexive, as it never holds between x and itself.
-
Of or resulting from a reflex.
The electric shock elicited an automatic and reflexive response from him.
noun
Origin
From Medieval Latin reflexīvus, from Latin reflexus, equivalent to reflex + -ive.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)