reflection

UK: /rɪˈflɛkʃ^ən/ US: /rɪˈflɛkʃən/ ,(ri flek′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•flec•tion /rɪˈflɛkʃən/   n. 

1. the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected:
   [uncountable] the reflection of the sun on the water.
2. [countable] something reflected, as an image.
3. careful consideration:
   [uncountable] After much reflection I've come to a decision.
4. a thought that occurs when thinking about or considering something:
   [countable] published his reflections on the years of his presidency.
5. an indication or expression of something unfavorable with respect to a person or thing:
   [countable] meant no reflection on your honesty or integrity.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] reˈflex•ion.  re•flec•tion•al, adj. See -flect-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•flec•tion  (ri flek′shən), n. 

1. the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
2. an image;
   representation;
   counterpart.
3. a fixing of the thoughts on something;
   careful consideration.
4. a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.
5. an unfavorable remark or observation.
6. the casting of some imputation or reproach.
7. Optics, Physics [Physics, Optics.]
   • the return of light, heat, sound, etc., after striking a surface.
   • something so reflected, as heat or esp. light.
8. Mathematics
   • (in a plane) the replacement of each point on one side of a line by the point symmetrically placed on the other side of the line.
   • (in space) the replacement of each point on one side of a plane by the symmetric point on the other side of the plane.
9. Anatomy the bending or folding back of a part upon itself.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] reflexion. 

• Late Latin reflexiōn- (stem of reflexiō) a bending back, equivalent. to Latin reflex(us) (see reflex) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English 1350–1400

re•flec′tion•al, adj. 
re•flec′tion•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 3. meditation, rumination, deliberation, cogitation, study, thinking.
• 5. imputation, aspersion, reproach, criticism.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

reflection, (less commonly)reflexion / rɪˈflɛkʃən/ noun

1. the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected
2. something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror
3. careful or long consideration or thought
4. implicit or explicit attribution of discredit or blame
5. a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed or which changes the sign of one of the variables
6. the bending back of a structure or part upon itself

reˈflectional, reˈflexional adjective