retrospection

[ re-truh-spek-shuhn ]

noun

1. the action, process, or faculty of looking back on things past.
2. a survey of past events or experiences.

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrospection¹

First recorded in 1625–35; retrospect + -ion

Example Sentences

They’re just happy to be here, and forty years from now, they’ll look back on this time with the same rosy retrospection I do for my own youth.

From Time

The cognitive errors that occur while reconstructing and forgetting certain memories lead to rosy retrospection, a process in which “people tend to think back on the past more fondly than what they experienced at that time.”

From MIT Technology Review

The second half of the episode dove into the mandated 30 minutes of retrospection necessary for any series finale.

From The Daily Beast

Even if this is true, (indeed, if this is the case, it only aggravates the insult); avoid such retrospection.

From Project Gutenberg

For two or three minutes the illusion remained, till it was banished by retrospection.

From Project Gutenberg

But far more exalted pleasures of memory and retrospection await the Christian in a future world.

From Project Gutenberg

In sober retrospection it was almost incredible that the thin khaki line had held against the overwhelming odds which faced it.

From Project Gutenberg

He persuaded his sisters, therefore, to walk out with him, to while away at once expectation and retrospection.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alteration
• amendment
• improvement
• modification
• reconsideration
• reexamination
• review