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

Candy stripers are a relic of the past, but the same retro red-and-white wardrobe has a different appeal when seen in a bedding setting. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026

These retro flowers call to mind boho dresses and Woodstock. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026

Pair your puffer with this cute retro beanie by The North Face. —Anna Fiorentino, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026

Taylor pictured a retro servers-on-skate diner vibe with banquettes shaped like 1950s cars, with leather chef’s jackets. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Feb. 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")