retro

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro ˈre-(ˌ)trō How to pronounce retro (audio)
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The Dior, Rabanne and Lanvin alum tapped into retro silhouettes, such as broad shoulders and asymmetry. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 Abercrombie & Fitch High-Rise Flare Jeans The flare silhouette here matches Clarkson's retro-style jeans, but with a bit more fit through the leg. Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025 Texas Throwback Spotlight A special retro screening series celebrating Texas cinematic history sponsored by Bluebonnet Abstract & Title. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025 This family-run retro diner started as a soda fountain in the 1940s and expanded. Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retro

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of retro was in 1972

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retro. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

retro

1 of 2 adjective
ret·​ro ˈret-rō How to pronounce retro (audio)
: 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")

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!