retroactive
What is another word for retroactive? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.
Adjective — Extending in effect or application back to a time or conditions before it was made.
We haven't recorded synonyms for retroactive yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.
How to use retroactive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a retroactive pay rise
retroactive effect
applied retroactively
a retroactive law
Retroactive is a fairly formal word, common in legal, financial and official writing.
Etymology
Retroactive was first recorded in 1610. It came into English from the French rétroactif, and is built from retro- joined to active.
Full origin of retroactive →Frequently asked questions
What does retroactive mean?
Retroactive means applying back to an earlier time or to conditions that existed before something took effect.
Can you give an example of something retroactive?
A pay rise backdated to an earlier date, so staff receive extra money for months already worked, is retroactive.
Is retroactive the same as retrospective?
No, though they are related. Retroactive specifically means a change, such as a law or a pay rise, is made to apply back to an earlier date. Retrospective is the broader term for looking back at or reviewing something that already happened, without that specific sense of a backdated legal or administrative effect.
