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

After Christopher Kane’s Mulberry debut on Sunday afternoon, the retro-futuristic central room in the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London resounded with whoops and applause, and a whole section of the audience gave a standing ovation. — Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026

The retro packaging rollout will begin on September 28 and will continue into 2027. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2026

The avocado green kitchen—once considered an outdated vestige from the ’70s—is now back in fashion, and design experts are totally digging the retro vibe. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2026

My favorite detail, aside from the side stripe, is the drawstring, which adds a cool retro touch. — Kim Grundy, InStyle, 19 Sep. 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")