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

retroactivity

ˌre-trō-ˌak-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

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

But that didn’t require a major retroactive overhaul of the Key Bridge. —Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024

The more than 10% in raises in the contract includes a 5% salary boost for all faculty retroactive to July 1 of last year. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 20 Feb. 2024

The new contract with California State University includes a 5% raise for all faculty retroactive to July 2023 and another 5% raise that would take effect this July as long as the state does not cut base funding for the 23-campus system. —Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024

These retroactive cuts would acknowledge past overpayments that would need to be taken out of future payments. —Christian Barnard, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2024

The deals generally follow the pattern set by the TV/Theatrical agreement in other respects, with 7% increases in scale wages retroactive to July 1, followed by increases of 4% and 3.5% in the subsequent years of the contract. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024

The immunity would be retroactive but would exclude pending litigation. —Kim Chandler The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2024

Cline’s case spurred lawmakers to pass legislation that outlawed fertility fraud but wasn’t retroactive, meaning he was never prosecuted for it. —Rob Kuznia, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024

If the change is retroactive to 2023, the IRS is expected to adjust payments or refunds for those who filed early but are owed more money for the child tax credit due to the tax law change. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 29 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French rétroactif, from Latin retroactus, past participle of retroagere to drive back, reverse, from retro- + agere to drive — more at agent

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Kids 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

retroactivity

-ak-ˈti-və-tē 

noun