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Definition of retroactively

retroactively

/ˌrɛtroʊˈæktɪvli/
ret · ro · ac · tive · ly
Adjective:retroactive
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retroactively Lexical Profile

retroactively Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

With effect from a date in the past prior to the enactment or announcement of a law, rule, or decision.

Example

"The new salary increase will be applied retroactively to the beginning of the fiscal year."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for retroactively
Antonyms
View all antonyms for retroactively

Word Nuance & Usage

'Retroactively' indicates that a rule, law, or decision takes effect from a specified date in the past, whereas 'retrospectively' generally means looking back on or contemplating past events without necessarily altering their legal or official status.

• Rhymes for retroactively

• Nearby Words

retriever
retro
retroactive
retroactively
retroactiveness
retrofit
retrograde

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Retroactively. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/retroactively
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