Reflexive Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of REFLEXIVE

1

grammar

:

showing that the action in a sentence or clause happens to the person or thing that does the action

• In “I hurt myself,” the verb “hurt” is reflexive.
• In the sentence “We forced ourselves to finish the assignment,” the word “ourselves” is a reflexive pronoun.

2

:

happening or done without thinking as a reaction to something

• For many people, the reflexive response to this kind of demand is to say no.

• music that triggers reflexive toe tapping

• Many people respond reflexively to this kind of demand by saying no.