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
The move is retroactive to June 28 and marks Cruz’s second stint on the IL this season.
—
Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
The agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, and workers will also get a $500 lump sum bonus.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 27 June 2025
Canada has a new DST that is set to take effect on Monday that will be retroactive to 2022.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
The bill for American tech players, which comes from a 3 percent levy imposed on their revenues from doing business in Canada and due on Monday, is retroactive to 2022 and could reach $2 billion annually.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
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Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
The agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, and workers will also get a $500 lump sum bonus.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 27 June 2025
Canada has a new DST that is set to take effect on Monday that will be retroactive to 2022.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
The bill for American tech players, which comes from a 3 percent levy imposed on their revenues from doing business in Canada and due on Monday, is retroactive to 2022 and could reach $2 billion annually.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
Cite this Entry
“Retroactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retroactive. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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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