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

Adjective

• antique
• old-fashioned
• old-school
• old-time
• old-timey
• old-world
• oldfangled
• quaint
• retrograde
• vintage

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

The brothers are hoping to open the restaurant in June, pending building repairs and updates to create a retro diner-style experience, Alejandro Salazar said. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2025

The inclusion of Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 further underscores the rather retro nature of this notebook. —PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025

This dramatic addition is a great alternative to a veil for those who want a train, yet have a distinct volume and structure that lends a look a retro elegance. —Shelby Wax, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025

Garner shared that the Silver Surfer costume had a retro high fashion quality to it. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 25 Apr. 2025

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")