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• retro
  retro

  adjective

  retroactive.
• retro-
  retro-

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

retro

¹ American  

[re-troh] / ˈrɛ troʊ /

adjective

Informal.

1. retroactive.

   retro pay.

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

   retro clothes.

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retro- ² American  

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

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retro- ¹ British  

prefix

1. back or backwards

   retroactive

2. located behind

   retrolental

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retro ² British  

/ ˈrɛtrəʊ /

noun

1. short for retrorocket

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adjective

1. denoting something associated with or revived from the past

   retro dressing

   retro fashion

Etymology

Origin of retro¹

By shortening

Origin of retro-²

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

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Explanation

Retro things imitate a style from the past. A retro diner might serve 1950s-style milkshakes and be decorated like a diner from that era, but the prices will be much more modern. If you like retro clothes, you probably shop online and at thrift shops, where you can find pants from the 70s and prom dresses from the 50s. Retro music is heavily influenced by past genres, like rockabilly or doo-wop. You can also use retro as a noun: "I'm really into retro when it comes to cars." The word was first used in the 1970s in French, rétro, short for rétrograde, from the Latin retrogradi, "move backward."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

retro retro-

Rock also acts in the movie as an on-the-skids filmmaker named Jordan who, when tasked to reboot “Dreamgirls,” dresses up for the job with a retro fedora.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

They are both only too happy to emphasise it with their messages, retro or not, designed to show the true souls of their tribes.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Sales hit a record in four of the past five years, with the brand’s retro designs winning over younger buyers who have driven a resurgence of interest in analog photography.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

They brought in minimalist and retro aesthetics, and matte finishes, to craft packaging that read as upscale, making for clean, consistent visuals across aisles.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

When I get out, her friend—the twinkly guy with a face of freckles and cool retro glasses—is standing by the bathroom door.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

We did this by firing our retro- rockets, four solid-propellant rockets mounted in our tail.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins

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