refractive

American  

[ri-frak-tiv] / rɪˈfræk tɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to refraction.

2. Also having power to refract.

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refractive British  

/ ˌriːfrækˈtɪvɪtɪ, rɪˈfræktɪv /

adjective

1. of or concerned with refraction

2. (of a material or substance) capable of causing refraction

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Other Word Forms

• nonrefractive adjective
• nonrefractively adverb
• nonrefractiveness noun
• refractively adverb
• refractiveness noun
• unrefractive adjective
• unrefractively adverb
• unrefractiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of refractive

First recorded in 1665–75, refractive is from the Late Latin word refrāctīvus (of pronouns) reflexive. See refract, -ive

Example Sentences

There is a strange, refractive moment at the end of this Fanatics commercial where Kendall Jenner bets on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026

“If somehow that feedback is broken, for example, if kids are exposed to only a certain kind of wavelength, then that can mess up your refractive development.”

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2025

In this case, the refractive index of the material, or how much light bends or deviates from its original path when is passes through, changed dramatically with atomic disorder.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2024

This week on Working Overtime, the hosts unravel the refractive process of switching mediums and escaping the familiar.

From Slate • Nov. 16, 2023

He's only in the door three seconds before he starts spouting some theory about spectral analysis and the refractive indices of protein substances, and he's carrying a big box full of books and papers.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements