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

How could Jesus-loving people support a bill so harsh and regressive? —MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025

The sensual image immediately divided people online, with some fans calling it empowering while critics deemed it offensive, regressive or anti-feminist. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 July 2025

Putting a tax on food is probably the most regressive idea imaginable. —George Cardenas, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025

That made the laws regressive, but no group looked worse off. —Emily Badger, New York Times, 13 June 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