re-

back, again; restoration or reversal

Forms

re-
red- — An early Latin form used before vowels and h.

Origin

Its ancestry before Latin is uncertain.

Note

In some old compounds the prefix adds emphasis, while in others its separate contribution has become unclear.

74 / 284

adjective

reflexive

Done automatically without conscious thought.

She raises her arms in a reflexive response to the approaching ball.

A person instinctively lifts both forearms to protect the face as a foam ball approaches unexpectedly; one approaching ball, startled eyes, automatic protective response without injury.

Etymology

reflexLatinbent back

+iveEnglishhaving a quality or tendency

Reflex developed a physiological sense for a response returned automatically to a stimulus. Reflexive extends that automatic reaction to conduct performed without conscious deliberation.

In context

The Best Seat in History157:23

The immediate, reflexive, instinctive fruit of the fall was the refusal to say the two hardest words a human being can say

You've Been Wrong About Temptation (The Bible Explains Why)

More examples

Touching the hot pan triggers a reflexive jerk of his hand.
Her apology is reflexive, even when she has done nothing wrong.
The sudden crash makes him duck in a reflexive movement.

Forms

reflexive

reflex noun — An automatic response to a stimulus.

reflexively adverb — Automatically and without conscious thought.

Similar words

automatic: Emphasizes an action happening without deliberate control or attention.
involuntary: Emphasizes that a response is not under conscious control.
instinctive: Emphasizes natural impulses rather than learned or deliberate behavior.