retroactive
retroactive Lexical Profile
retroactive Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Taking effect from a date in the past; applying to or influencing a period before a law, rule, or agreement was formally enacted.
"The union negotiated a new contract that included a retroactive pay raise dating back to the start of the fiscal year."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'retroactive' and 'retrospective' are often used interchangeably in legal and administrative contexts, 'retroactive' specifically describes a policy or decision that applies to a past date, whereas 'retrospective' more commonly refers to looking back at or reviewing past events.
• Rhymes for retroactive
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from French rétroactif, formed from Latin retroactus (past participle of retroagere, 'to drive or turn back'), from retro- ('backward') and agere ('to do, drive').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.