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during World War II, when weapons technology was advancing at an intense pace and planes and ships were becoming outdated even before their construction was complete, and the only solution was to retrofit the completed craft with the brand-new technology.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

While cities such as Los Angeles, Torrance, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills have ordered such buildings to be retrofitted, most others in the region have not, including areas in the San Gabriel Valley and southeast L.A. County shaken up by Monday’s temblor. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2024

A lot of retrofitting to modify its setup was undertaken instead, using OEM EV components. —New Atlas, 10 Aug. 2024

Ahead of the Olympics, the city of Paris and local water agencies spent about $1.5 billion to clean up the Seine, retrofitting an antiquated sewer system that overflows into the river when it is overwhelmed by heavy rain. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 30 July 2024

Stellantis will also receive an additional $250 million to retrofit its transmission plant in Kokomo, Indiana, for the production of electric drive modules. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 11 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

retrofit

verb

ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit 

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