retro

¹

[ re-troh ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. retroactive:

   retro pay.

2. of or designating the style of an earlier time:

   retro clothes.

retro-

²

1. a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin meaning “backward” ( retrogress ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words ( retrorocket ).

retro-

¹

prefix

1. back or backwards

   retroactive

2. located behind

   retrolental

retro

²

/ ˈrɛtrəʊ /

noun

1. short for retrorocket

adjective

1. denoting something associated with or revived from the past

   retro fashion

   retro dressing

Word History and Origins

Origin of retro¹

By shortening

Origin of retro²

< Latin, representing retrō (adv.), backward, back, behind

Word History and Origins

Origin of retro¹

from Latin retrō behind, backwards

Example Sentences

The rest of the retro aesthetic is achieved with a desaturated color palette that is not well served by the digital photography and dim lighting.

From Los Angeles Times

Jim Fletcher, kitted out like a mad scientist on a retro electronics kick, shadows the president as though he were prancing around in his twisted dreams, sometimes in the guise of an unusually tall rodent.

From Los Angeles Times

They manoeuvre joysticks on what look like large retro game-controllers, as the arms pull used nuclear fuel rods – still glowing hot and highly radioactive - from the heavy metal containers in which they arrived.

From BBC

And I discovered there are only so many times you can play the retro Nokia game Snake, even when it’s called Malibu Snake and it's pink.

From BBC

“The album period wasn’t my favourite but if people still like it and find it fun, that’s cool. I’m happy with being the retro kitsch guy,” he says.

From BBC