retrofit

verb

ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit  ˌre-trō-ˈfit 

retrofitted or retrofit; retrofitting; retrofits

transitive verb

1

: to furnish (something, such as a computer, airplane, or building) with new or modified parts or equipment not available or considered necessary at the time of manufacture

2

: to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed

3

: to adapt to a new purpose or need : modify

retrofit the story for a new audience

retrofit

ˈre-trō-ˌfit 

noun

Did you know?

The concept of retrofitting became an urgent necessity during World War II, when weapons technology was advancing at an intense pace and planes and ships were becoming outdated even before their construction was complete, and the only solution was to retrofit the completed craft with the brand-new technology. Retrofitting was revived on a massive scale during the energy crisis of the 1970s, when new features were added to millions of old houses to make them more energy-efficient. Retrofitting is thus different from merely renovating, which may not involve any new technology at all.

Examples of retrofit in a Sentence

The factory has been retrofitted to meet the new safety regulations.

We can retrofit your car with the new fuel system.

Recent Examples on the Web

Surely the Dodgers can afford to retrofit those sections with something to hold on to. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026

Tensor has unveiled its personal Robocar at CES, positioning it as an AI-first autonomous vehicle built from the ground up for Level 4 driving rather than a conventional EV retrofitted with autonomy. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026

The renovations retrofitted each unit with cooking and washing appliances and new windows and ventilation and updated the building from a single electrical meter to an individual meter for each unit. —Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

When boards pre-commit to a preferred outcome and then retrofit justifications for rejecting alternatives, the problem is not strategic disagreement. —Mark Desjardine, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for retrofit

• candlelit
• counterfeit
• hypocrite
• monazite
• resubmit
• acquit
• admit
• amrit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• cockpit

Kids Definition

retrofit

verb

ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit 

: to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed