retroactive

[ re-troh-ak-tiv ]

adjective

1. operative with respect to past occurrences, as a statute; retrospective:

   a retroactive law.

2. pertaining to a pay raise effective as of a past date.

retroactive

/ ˌrɛtrəʊˈæktɪv /

adjective

1. applying or referring to the past

   retroactive legislation

2. effective or operative from a date or for a period in the past

Derived Forms

• ˌretroˈactiveness, noun
• ˌretroˈactively, adverb

Other Words From

• ret·ro·ac·tive·ly adverb
• ret·ro·ac·tiv·i·ty noun
• non·ret·ro·ac·tive adjective
• non·ret·ro·ac·tiv·i·ty noun
• un·ret·ro·ac·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retroactive¹

First recorded in 1605–15; retro- + active