retroactively

[ re-troh-ak-tiv-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way that includes or refers to events that happened before the relevant rule, decision, or other measure came into effect:

   One other state has just passed a Racial Justice Act, but it doesn’t allow any of the inmates now on death row to file claims retroactively.

Other Words From

• non·ret·ro·ac·tive·ly adverb
• un·ret·ro·ac·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of retroactively¹

retroactive ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

“To retroactively want your life to have meant something, or to have been part of something, I think is really so fun and desperate,” Jones says.

From Los Angeles Times

The CDC is currently testing whether exposed individuals in Missouri have traces of H5 antibodies in their blood to retroactively determine if they were infected.

From Salon

The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required by international tax law, our income was already subject to taxes in the US.

From BBC

There is also a trend of the Israeli government retroactively legalising outposts - effectively transforming them into settlements.

From BBC

California did not enact a law requiring such circumstances until after the shooting, and the law could not be applied retroactively, the defense lawyers argued.

From Los Angeles Times