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 Word Forms

• nonretroactively adverb
• unretroactively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of retroactively¹

retroactive ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The data also showed that nearly 90% of the approved permit applications were backdated, retroactively giving permission for flares that were already burning.

From Salon

This game, as well as next week’s against Georgia Southern, will be judged retroactively.

From Los Angeles Times

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told a news conference the deal sets out that the 15% tariff on cars would be retroactively applied from the first of the month in which the legislative process begins.

From BBC

The Environment Agency has also received £189m to support hundreds of enforcement offices to inspect and prosecute water companies, with the fines retroactively paying for this.

From BBC

Nor was the policy applied retroactively to rewrite the results of past competitions.

From Los Angeles Times