regressive

adjective

re·​gres·​sive ri-ˈgre-siv 

1

: tending to regress or produce regression

2

: being, characterized by, or developing in the course of an evolutionary process involving increasing simplification of bodily structure

3

: decreasing in rate as the base increases

a regressive tax

regressively adverb

regressiveness noun

regressivity

ˌrē-ˌgre-ˈsi-və-tē 

noun

Examples of regressive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With the most regressive taxes in the nation hammering low-income earners more than the rich. —Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026

Johnson’s motive for fighting the video gambling terminals would be because revenues would eat into the city’s first casino at Bally’s Chicago, which was billed as a way to help buoy pension funds, and because critics say vice taxes are a regressive way to raise revenue. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

Hochul should use her improving political fortune and growing public disdain for the president’s regressive stances to break away from Trumpian energy policies and restore New York’s clean energy leadership in the new year. —Anshul Gupta, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026

That distinction, Reynolds argues, lacks a rational basis in a financial context and results in a regressive penalty for pet owners who shoulder substantial care costs without relief. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for regressive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• impressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive

Kids Definition

regressive

adjective

re·​gres·​sive ri-ˈgres-iv 

1

: of, relating to, or tending toward regression

2

: gradually decreasing

a regressive tax

Medical Definition

regressive

adjective

re·​gres·​sive ri-ˈgres-iv 

: relating to, resulting from, producing, or characterized by regression

regressive behavior

regressive tissue changes