retrospective

¹ret·ro·spec·tive

adjective \-ˈspek-tiv\

Definition of RETROSPECTIVE

1

a (1) : of, relating to, or given to retrospection (2) : based on memory <a retrospective report>

b : being a retrospective <a retrospective exhibition>

2

: affecting things past : retroactive <retrospective laws>

3

: relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition

— ret·ro·spec·tive·ly adverb

Examples of RETROSPECTIVE

1. They issued a retrospective report.
2. a retrospective analysis of what went wrong
3. The museum is having a retrospective exhibit of the artist's early works.

First Known Use of RETROSPECTIVE

1664

Rhymes with RETROSPECTIVE

cost-effective, house detective, imperfective, ineffective, intellective, introspective, nondirective, nonobjective, self-reflective, unselective

²retrospective

noun

Definition of RETROSPECTIVE

: a generally comprehensive exhibition, compilation, or performance of the work of an artist over a span of years; broadly : review 7a <a retrospective of 20th century haute couture>

Examples of RETROSPECTIVE

1. The museum is featuring a retrospective of Picasso's early works.

First Known Use of RETROSPECTIVE

1932

ret·ro·spec·tive

adjective \-ˈspek-tiv\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of RETROSPECTIVE

1

a : of, relating to, or given to introspection b : relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition—compare prospective

2

: based on memory

—ret·ro·spec·tive·ly adverb