Retroactive
Relating to or applying to events that have already occurred; taking effect from a date in the past.
adjectiveRetroactive
Relating to or applying to events that have already occurred; taking effect from a date in the past.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a policy announced today that applies to last year's tax returns, as if yesterday's decisions could rewrite the past.
Sounds Like
Sounds like: reh-truh-AK-tiv
Looks Like
Looks like: retro + active
Remember This
Retroactive combines retro- (backward) with -ive (forming an adjective). It often appears with laws, pay, or benefits that affect the past.
Other Forms
Connect With
retrospective, backdate, ex post facto, backdated
Note
Use retroactive to describe actions that affect the past. For actions describing the manner of applying to the past, the adverb retroactively is appropriate.
Study Deeper
- The company granted retroactive pay raises, dating back to January 1.
- The tax law is retroactive, applying to last year's filings.
From Latin retro- meaning 'backward' + actus meaning 'done' (from the verb agere). The suffix -ive forms an adjective indicating a state or quality.
RetroACTIVE = acting backwards in time; remember that 'retro' means backward and 'active' means doing, so something that acts in the past.
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Orthodox
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adjectiveHaving a strong dislike or opposition to something; unwilling to do or engage in it.
Propensity
nounA natural inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way; a predisposition.
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