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

When the sun sinks below the horizon, nothing beats the retro pleasure of a movie under the twinkling stars. —Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026

Groovy Baby The color combinations on this retro stripe, which curves at the will of the nail artist, are endless. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2026

As with the more metallic Headphone (1), these do a good job of communicating a distinctive retro-futuristic design language. —New Atlas, 7 Mar. 2026

A number of La Liga clubs have retro collections in their official club stores, consisting of shirts and training wear. —Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 6 Mar. 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")