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

Judge, 33, was placed on the injured list on July 27, retroactive to July 26, with a right elbow flexor strain. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025

For Soler, there is no timetable for return, whose IL move for lower back inflammation is retroactive to Thursday. —Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 27 July 2025

That is retroactive back to almost the beginning of the year. —Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

QuikTrip’s lawsuit took particular aim at the fact that the new law was retroactive. —Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 10 July 2025

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

Rhymes for retroactive

• bioactive
• hyperactive
• interactive
• nonreactive
• overactive
• psychoactive
• putrefactive
• unattractive
• unreactive
• vasoactive
• active
• tractive

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