What does refection mean?
Refection is an obsolete English spelling of the modern word “reflection.” Like its standard counterpart, it can refer to the return of light or sound from a surface, to an image produced in a mirror or other reflecting material, or to the process of thoughtful consideration. In literary and early printed texts, the spelling “refection” appeared alongside “reflection,” but it is not normally used in contemporary English. The word has no independent modern meaning and should be recognized when encountered in historical writing rather than treated as a separate vocabulary item. For present-day usage, “reflection” is the preferred form, particularly in phrases such as “a reflection of light” and “careful reflection on a difficult question.”
nounA rare or obsolete spelling of “reflection,” especially in the sense of light, sound, or an image being turned back, or of careful thought about a matter.
- An obsolete spelling of reflection, especially the returning of light or sound from a surface.
"A faint refection of the lake appeared on the surface of the polished table."
"The refection of the sunset coloured the underside of the clouds."
"Her careful refection of the question revealed several possible interpretations."
The plural would follow ordinary noun inflection, but the singular form itself is obsolete.
"The old manuscript contains several refections of the same scene."
A sound choice of letters does not always carry a sound meaning: this word is simply an older spelling of reflection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does refection come from?
Refection is an obsolete English spelling of reflection, rather than a word with a separate origin. The standard form derives through Old French from Latin reflexio, a noun formed from reflectere, meaning “to bend back.” Its cognate relatives in English include reflect, reflective, and reflexive, all based on the same Latin idea of turning something back.
How refection is actually used
This form is obsolete and occurs chiefly in older or archaic writing. Modern writers should use “reflection.”
Easily confused with refection
“Refection” is an obsolete variant of “reflection”; the standard modern spelling is “reflection.”