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Synonyms

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.


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 ).


retro- 1 British  

prefix

  1. back or backwards

    retroactive

  2. located behind

    retrolental

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

retro 2 British  
/ ˈrɛtrəʊ /

noun

  1. short for retrorocket

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. denoting something associated with or revived from the past

    retro dressing

    retro fashion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of retro1

By shortening

Origin of retro-2

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There was a real retro feel to her designs, which focus on sustainability through the use of deadstock fabric and environmentally-friendly dyes.

From BBC

Experts blame "fairly extraordinary weather", with strong south-easterly winds, for the increase in "retro rubbish".

From BBC

I opted for the classics: onion soup, retro vol-au-vent overflowing with mushrooms and, for dessert, an île flottante heady with vanilla and caramel.

From The Wall Street Journal

While often in a retro pixel art style, at times the game shifted into a more modern open-world look.

From Los Angeles Times

And this year, the sport went fully retro—and went back to the ’90s.

From The Wall Street Journal