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
Disability claims can take months to clear, appeals can drag the timeline out further and retirement benefit adjustments sometimes produce retroactive payments that beneficiaries never expected.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The move is retroactive to May 31, and to fill Sogard’s spot the club also called up infielder Anthony Seigler from Triple-A Worcester.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
If a subsequent Congress and president were determined to undo the settlement fund’s payouts, a retroactive tax on prior years’ income might run into problems.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
In most realms, the difference between how a 25- or 27-year-old and a 21-year-old has learned his craft is surmountable, something that can be accounted for with some retroactive understanding.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
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Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The move is retroactive to May 31, and to fill Sogard’s spot the club also called up infielder Anthony Seigler from Triple-A Worcester.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
If a subsequent Congress and president were determined to undo the settlement fund’s payouts, a retroactive tax on prior years’ income might run into problems.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
In most realms, the difference between how a 25- or 27-year-old and a 21-year-old has learned his craft is surmountable, something that can be accounted for with some retroactive understanding.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
Cite this Entry
“Retroactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retroactive. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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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