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

High costs and low ridership have pushed the transit authority to threaten major service cuts – unless wary voters approve a regressive tax hike in November. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2026

There is a separate political cost to consider for a mayor who ran on taxing the rich, as parking fees are considered a form of regressive taxation, hitting lower-income earners harder on a percentage basis. —Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2026

Letitia Harmon, Senior Director of Policy and Research at Florida Rising, called the bill regressive to the region’s progress. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026

Fires, earthquakes, mudslides, regressive taxes, and other natural disasters seem to be unmistakable hints from above. —David Wolpe, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2026

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