adj · noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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rĕt′rō
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɹɛt.ɹəʊ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, General-American:/ˈɹɛt.ɹoʊ/
Australian:/ˈɹet.ɹəʉ/
New-Zealand:/ˈɹet.ɹɐʉ/
South-Asia:/reʈˈroː/
rhymes with -ɛtɹəʊ
CMU ARPABET:R EH1 T R OW0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, or relating to, the past, past times, or the way things were.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Affecting things past; retroactive, ex post facto.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Past fashions or trends.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Abbreviation of retrorocket.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Abbreviation of retrospective.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A chess puzzle of retrograde analysis, requiring the solver to work out the history of moves leading to the position presented.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
affecting things past
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
retroactive tax increase
an ex-post-facto law
retro pay
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ex post facto, retroactive
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
a fashion reminiscent of the past
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fashion
History
Etymology
Borrowed from French rétro, ultimately from Latin retro.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
retro-
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Finnish:
vanhanaikainen
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Finnish:
uusvanha
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
French:
rétro
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Polish:
retro
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Portuguese:
retrô
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Russian:
ре́тро-
(rétro-)
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Russian:
устаре́вший
(ustarévšij)
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Russian:
старомо́дный
(staromódnyj)
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Swedish:
retro
— of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
Finnish:
takautuva
— affecting things past; retroactive, ex post facto
Finnish:
retroaktiivinen
— affecting things past; retroactive, ex post facto
French:
rétro
— affecting things past; retroactive, ex post facto