retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv 
: extending in scope or effect to a prior time or to conditions that existed or originated in the past
especially
: made effective as of a date prior to enactment, promulgation, or imposition
retroactive tax
retroactively
adverb
Did you know?
We normally think of time as constantly moving forward. Since retroactive seems to defy time's forward movement, retroactive taxes, laws, and regulations are often seen as particularly obnoxious and unfair. But nobody ever objects to receiving a retroactive raise at work. When we judge historical people and events in terms of present-day morality and attitudes, our retroactive judgments may indicate that we're too impressed with ourselves and ignorant of history.
Examples of retroactive in a Sentence
They all received a retroactive pay raise.
The new tax will be retroactive to January 1.
Recent Examples on the Web
During the first half of his temporary term as interim county executive, LeVota introduced a pair of tax policies intended to create retroactive, artificial 15% caps on the valuation increases of residential properties in the 2023 cycle, and commercial properties in the 2025 cycle.
—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2026
That includes sweeping hundreds of millions of dollars out of special taxing districts, borrowing to pay for legal settlements and retroactive pay bumps, and diverting pandemic relief money away from programs and toward payroll instead.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
But lawmakers did not make that change retroactive, to apply to people already inside prison.
—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
23 June 2026
Some of the new settlements approved recently are retroactive legalizations of tiny outposts, while others are neighborhoods of existing settlements.
—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2026
That includes sweeping hundreds of millions of dollars out of special taxing districts, borrowing to pay for legal settlements and retroactive pay bumps, and diverting pandemic relief money away from programs and toward payroll instead.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
But lawmakers did not make that change retroactive, to apply to people already inside prison.
—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
23 June 2026
Some of the new settlements approved recently are retroactive legalizations of tiny outposts, while others are neighborhoods of existing settlements.
—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
Cite this Entry
“Retroactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retroactive. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv
: intended to apply or take effect at a date in the past
a retroactive pay raise
retroactively
adverb
Medical Definition
retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv
: having relation or reference to or efficacy in a prior time
specifically
: relating to, caused by, or being obliteration of the results of learning by immediately subsequent activity
retroactive inhibition
Legal Definition
retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv
: extending in scope or effect to a prior time or to conditions that existed or originated in the past
especially
: made effective as of a date prior to enactment, promulgation, or imposition
a retroactive tax
see also ex post facto law
retroactively
adverb
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