retired

1 of 2

adjective

re·​tired ri-ˈtī(-ə)rd 

1

: secluded

a retired village

2

: withdrawn from one's position or occupation : having concluded one's working or professional career

a group of retired teachers

3

: received by or due to one in retirement

retired pay

retiredly

ri-ˈtī-rəd-lē, 

-ˈtī(-ə)rd- 

adverb

retiredness

ri-ˈtī(-ə)rd-nəs 

noun

retired

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of retire

Synonyms of retired

Adjective

• secluded
• sheltered
• isolated
• hidden
• quiet

Examples of retired in a Sentence

Adjective

hiked out to a retired beach and fished in the surf

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Police eventually arrived, and the 78-year-old retired professor ended up in handcuffs. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

The film ends with a retired Bell recounting two dreams to his wife, both about his father. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

John Korslund, a retired USDA official who helped coordinate the response to COVID-19 on mink farms several years prior, was one of several experts who said officials need to look closely at newer genetic samples to see how the virus is evolving. — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026

The retired detective, who left the NYPD 25 years ago, was ordered held on $1 million bail. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for retired

• reacquired
• aspired
• attired
• expired
• mired
• quired
• spired

Kids Definition

retired

adjective

re·​tired

1

: secluded sense 1

a retired village

2

: not working at active duties or business