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

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

The general rise of retro football shirts has been reported to now be a near £40m business empire by the Classic Football Shirts company.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

“Hag” sits smack-dab at the center of a four-way intersection between camp, arthouse, schlock and retro TV movie of the week.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

So please, stop putting your retro aesthetic ahead of our contemporary needs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

When Molina started selling Altadena-themed merch on Sidecca’s website, Bolding donated three designs, including one with lively retro daisies.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

And then he put on that retro Lone Ranger tune, something he liked to play every morning because he thought it was a hip way to wake up the world.

From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz