retro

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro ˈre-(ˌ)trō How to pronounce retro (audio)
Synonyms of retro
: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned
a retro look
retro noun

retro-

2 of 2

prefix

1
: backward : back
retro-rocket
2
: situated behind
retroperitoneal

Examples of retro in a Sentence

Adjective the retro look in fashion retro fashions that seek to capture the lost glamour of Hollywood in the 1930s
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
With a legacy spanning more than 50 years, Atari has cornered the retro market, leveraging developers like Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios to resurrect classics from yesteryear back on modern platforms. Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026 Recently, consumers have shifted toward using running shoes as an everyday product as opposed to performance basketball sneakers, with an exception for retro shoes. Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 8 June 2026 Besides a new roof and other urgent repairs, the foundation has mostly restored the retro interior, with its marble corridors and plaster detailing. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Olivia Rodrigo looks retro in a polka dot mini dress and neon green vest outside the BBC Radio studios in London on June 4. People Staff, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for retro

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French rétro, short for rétrospectif retrospective

Prefix

Latin, from retro, from re- + -tro (as in intro within) — more at intro-

First Known Use

Adjective

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of retro was in 1972

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retro. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

retro

1 of 2 adjective
ret·​ro ˈret-rō How to pronounce retro (audio)
: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past

retro-

2 of 2 prefix
: backward : back
retro-rocket
Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin re- "back, again" and Latin -tro (the final part of intro "within")

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