reflexiveadj/ɹɪˈflɛksɪv/

• 1

  grammarhuman-scienceslinguisticsReferring back to the subject, or having an object equal to the subject.

• 2

  mathematicssciencesOf 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.
• 3

  Of or resulting from a reflex.

  • The electric shock elicited an automatic and reflexive response from him.
• 4

  Producing immediate response, spontaneous.

  • a reflexive dislike
• 5

  governmentpoliticsProducing or provoking a reciprocal response.

  • 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.
• 6

  Synonym of reflective.

reflexivenoun/ɹɪˈflɛksɪv/

• 1

  grammarhuman-scienceslinguisticsA reflexive pronoun.

• 2

  grammarhuman-scienceslinguisticsA reflexive verb.