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

Also, the retro color options just make for really fun gifts (likewise for vintage Le Creuset collectible cookware). —Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025

The Swiss have been dipping bread in molten dairy for centuries, and the fondue entertaining craze of the 1960s and 1970s has, at least in the US, given the dish a bit of a retro reputation. —Callie Sumlin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Dec. 2025

The Air Max 95 has long been a fixture of Nike Sportswear’s retro offerings, but this year’s 30th anniversary release received special attention to detail. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025

The high waist helps conceal and support the midsection, while the flare design helps elongate the legs and give you a touch of retro flair. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 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")