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Pensive vs Reflective - What's the difference?

pensive | reflective |

As adjectives the difference between pensive and reflective

is that pensive is having the appearance of deep, often melancholic, thinking while reflective is something which reflects, or redirects back to the source.

pensive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having the appearance of deep, often melancholic, thinking.
  • Looking thoughtful, especially from sadness.
  • * 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. ยง 4.
    • Abstruse thought and profound researches I prohibit, and will severely punish, by the pensive melancholy which they introduce

    Derived terms

    * pensively * pensiveness

    Anagrams

    * ----

    reflective

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Something which reflects, or redirects back to the source.
    • Mirrors are reflective .
  • Thinking back on the past.
    • He always becomes reflective in preparation for the new year.
  • (computing, programming) Involving reflection.

    • Derived terms

    * unreflective

    Coordinate terms

    * refractive