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 prospect of clawbacks of government support, as well as the retroactive revocation of tariff exemptions and tax breaks, should provide additional pressure for companies to build in America—and for markets to value domestic production appropriately.
—
Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The bot confidently invented a policy allowing retroactive discounts that never existed.
—Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Philadelphia Eagles defensive star Jalen Carter was given a retroactive one-game suspension for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott prior to the first play from scrimmage in the teams’ season opener on Thursday, the NFL announced Tuesday.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The new, special tax break on tips is retroactive and applies to eligible tip income earned in all of 2025.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
The bot confidently invented a policy allowing retroactive discounts that never existed.
—Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Philadelphia Eagles defensive star Jalen Carter was given a retroactive one-game suspension for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott prior to the first play from scrimmage in the teams’ season opener on Thursday, the NFL announced Tuesday.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The new, special tax break on tips is retroactive and applies to eligible tip income earned in all of 2025.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 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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