adj · 3 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˌɹɛt.ɹəʊˈæk.tɪv/
US:/ˌɹɛ.tɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R EH2 T R OW0 AE1 K T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective
Meaning 2
descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on the effects of events or stimuli or process that occurred previously
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: proactive
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
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, retro
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
First attested in 1610. From French rétroactif, equivalent to retro- + active.
Across languages
Translations
25 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
հետադարձ
(hetadarj)
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Belarusian:
рэтраакты́ўны
(retraaktýwny)
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Catalan:
retroactiu
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Czech:
retroaktivní
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Czech:
zpětný
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Danish:
tilbagevirkende
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Danish:
retroaktiv
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Dutch:
terugwerkend
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Finnish:
takautuva
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Finnish:
taannehtiva
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Finnish:
retroaktiivinen
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
French:
rétroactif
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Georgian:
რეტროაქტიული
(reṭroakṭiuli)
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Georgian:
უკუქმედებითი
(uḳukmedebiti)
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
German:
rückwirkend
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Greek:
αναδρομικός
(anadromikós)
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Ido:
retroagiva
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Indonesian:
retroaktif
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Irish:
aisghníomhach
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Italian:
retroattivo
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Polish:
retroaktywny
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Portuguese:
retroativo
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Russian:
ретроакти́вный
(retroaktívnyj)
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Spanish:
retroactivo
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Swedish:
retroaktiv
— extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
