retrospective

[ re-truh-spek-tiv ]

adjective

1. directed to the past; contemplative of past situations, events, etc.
2. looking or directed backward.
3. retroactive, as a statute.

noun

1. an art exhibit showing an entire phase or representative examples of an artist's lifework.
2. any exhibition or series of showings or performances, as of musical works or motion pictures, representing the work of an artist or performer over all or a major part of a career:

   a retrospective of John Ford's movies.

retrospective

/ ˌrɛtrəʊˈspɛktɪv /

adjective

1. looking or directed backwards, esp in time; characterized by retrospection
2. applying to the past; retroactive

noun

1. an exhibition of an artist's life's work or a representative selection of it

Derived Forms

• ˌretroˈspectiveness, noun
• ˌretroˈspectively, adverb

Other Words From

• retro·spective·ly adverb
• retro·spective·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrospective¹

First recorded in 1655–65; retrospect + -ive

Example Sentences

His first retrospective exhibition was held at London's Hayward Gallery in 1978 and Auerbach was awarded the Golden Lion prize at the 1986 Venice Biennale.

From BBC

Mr Weatherby added that, in the inquiry’s final conclusions, MI5 had "presented an inaccurate picture of key parts of the evidence, and the corporate statements displayed retrospective justification – institutional defensiveness – rather than candour".

From BBC

Earlier in the evening, while cocktails and small bites were being passed around, Govan said it was rare to be able to honor an artist at the same time as the museum was staging a retrospective of the artist’s work, as was the case with Leigh, whose show features two decades of work in ceramic, bronze, video and installation in a co-presentation with the California African American Museum.

From Los Angeles Times

A career retrospective album, The Book of the Beast, was released last month, including highlights from his solo career and two "reworked" versions of Iron Maiden songs Tomorrow and Wrathchild.

From BBC

In addition, a retrospective analysis showed that babies’ breathing tubes became dislodged on 40% of Letby’s shifts.

From BBC

Related Words

• reflective