reflexive
/ɹɪˈflɛksɪv/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.84 in modern English
22
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
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).
adj
Producing or provoking a reciprocal response.
adj
Synonym of reflective.
noun
noun
Example Sentences
- ""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."
- "The electric shock elicited an automatic and reflexive response from him."
- "a reflexive dislike"
- "Shoigu's thinly veiled nuclear threats against NATO are part of the Kremlin's broader reflexive control campaign to influence Western decision-making in Russia's favor and against Western states' own interests. Shoigu's nuclear threats are attempts to push European states to self-deter and reduce their buildups of their defenses – leaving NATO's eastern border largely undefended. These reflexive control efforts are in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2021 demand before launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine that NATO not deploy any military forces to states that became NATO members after 1997, including Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: reflexīvus, reflexus
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɹɪˈflɛksɪv/
- British English: /ɹɪˈflɛksɪv/