retro

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro ˈre-(ˌ)trō 

: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned

a retro look

retro noun

retro-

2 of 2

prefix

1

: backward : back

retro-rocket

2

: situated behind

retroperitoneal

Synonyms of retro

Adjective

• vintage
• antique

Examples of retro in a Sentence

Adjective

the retro look in fashion

retro fashions that seek to capture the lost glamour of Hollywood in the 1930s

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Check it out here to see relaxed, beach-ready sweats; tops with retro, souvenir-esque prints; and more. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

As seen with Raye and Dean, London cool-girl style meets retro jazz crooner is an aesthetic that’s become ubiquitous among the rising crop of London singers and songwriters with jazz influences. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, the left side is dominated by the historic Boise State retro logo that was painted at midfield in 1986. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026

Underneath the retro bodywork, the XSR155 uses a Deltabox frame, which is Yamaha's signature aluminum chassis architecture adapted for this small-displacement application. — New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French rétro, short for rétrospectif retrospective

Prefix

Latin, from retro, from re- + -tro (as in intro within) — more at intro-

First Known Use

Adjective

1972, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing retro

• retro-rocket

Rhymes for retro

• nonmetro

Kids Definition

retro

1 of 2 adjective

ret·​ro ˈret-rō 

: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past

retro-

2 of 2 prefix

: backward : back

retro-rocket

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin re- "back, again" and Latin -tro (the final part of intro "within")