: the reflective quality or power of a surface or material
… conducting "reflectivity tests" to see whether Saudi sand when viewed through the goggles creates a sparkling effect that disorients pilots and causes them to send their helicopters careening to the ground.Newsweek
… there are many examples of luster-decorated ceramics, in which Islamic potters emulated the reflectivity of metalwork by applying metal oxides to white-glazed vessels …Roberta Smith
The warming at the surface could be expected to melt snow and ice, reducing the earth's albedo, or reflectivity.Roger Revelle

Examples of reflectivity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For Snow Goose, Ackermann created youthful silhouettes and a bold color palette, including the Rider parka which blends oversized proportions with hits of reflectivity, utilitarian pockets, a cinchable waist and side zips. David Moin, WWD, 6 Feb. 2025 In fact, Earth's reflectivity varies as the clouds, which appear far more brilliant than the land and seas, cover greater or lesser parts of Earth's visible hemisphere. Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2025 Another piece of the puzzle is the planet’s diminishing reflectivity, according to Brian McNoldy, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. Sachi Kitajima Mulkey / Grist, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025 Researchers working on terahertz imaging also struggle with uniform reflectivity; objects over a wide range of depths reflect similar amounts of radiation, producing very cluttered images. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2012 See all Example Sentences for reflectivity 

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reflectivity was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near reflectivity

Cite this Entry

“Reflectivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reflectivity. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

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