retro

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro ˈre-(ˌ)trō 

: 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

Synonyms of retro

Adjective

• vintage
• antique

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

Adjective

Further colorways have not been confirmed, but the model is also expected to receive new looks during this latest retro campaign. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 31 Jan. 2026

The retro style is really just icing on the cake. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026

Its much smaller, more casual sister restaurant, Dreamboat, occupies the same building and is a retro vegan diner. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026

The pop of blue, combined with the retro-eque design, is sure to make any outfit stand out. —Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026

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

Phrases Containing retro

• retro-rocket

Rhymes for retro

• nonmetro

Kids Definition

retro

1 of 2 adjective

ret·​ro ˈret-rō 

: 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")