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

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

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

If such a nuclear war happens, of course we won’t be around for any retrospective analysis.

From Salon

Monday’s protest comes just two days after the opening of the group’s first retrospective exhibition at downtown L.A.’s Superchief Gallery, which chronicles nearly two decades of its guerrilla art actions.

From Los Angeles Times

There was one from maybe 10 years ago — the James Turrell retrospective — that was awesome.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• reflective