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

The collection, which will debut Friday when the film has its theatrical release, features the retro colors and patterns of the early 1970s. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

Tyler Sanders, the owner of retro gaming store Steel Collectibles in Kennesaw, has many memories of lining up outside, sometimes in the cold, to get the latest console or game. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026

The search page is transformed into a simple list of blue links with retro Google branding. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026

Its glassy face leans into a zigzag pattern across its facades and from some angles looks like a retro video game. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 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")