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

These types favor gleaming Roman columns, tacky gilding, and oversized everything, meant to imply domination, hierarchy, and regressive traditionalism. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025

Lawlessness is a regressive tax No single study can capture the entirety of Brazil’s criminal economy. —Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 2025

In addition to being less equitable, regressive taxes magnify the severity of a recession, since a household’s after-tax resources fall faster than their income. —Claudia Sahm, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025

Importers typically pass those costs to consumers, making the policy function more like a regressive tax than a dividend. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025

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