retroactive

[re-troh-ak-tiv]

See more synonyms for retroactive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

operative with respect to past occurrences, as a statute; retrospective: a retroactive law.
pertaining to a pay raise effective as of a past date.

Origin of retroactive

First recorded in 1605–15; retro- + active

Related formsret·ro·ac·tive·ly, adverbret·ro·ac·tiv·i·ty, nounnon·ret·ro·ac·tive, adjectivenon·ret·ro·ac·tive·ly, adverbnon·ret·ro·ac·tiv·i·ty, nounun·ret·ro·ac·tive, adjectiveun·ret·ro·ac·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for retroactive

remembering, attendant, posterior, postmortem, retrospective, subsequent, sequent, retroactive, succeeding, backward

Examples from the Web for retroactive

Contemporary Examples of retroactive

For a pair such as Viola and Perov, who have co-created work for decades, there is also precedent for retroactive co-authorship.
Why the Art World Ignores Wives
Jessica Dawson
March 17, 2014
Lavalle and his three pals allegedly pocketed a cut of the retroactive lump sum ofas much as $100,000 that each claimant received.
The 9/11 Scam: New York’s Disability Disgrace
Michael Daly
January 8, 2014
What this may do is reduce the retroactive awards that folks get when they finally manage to get their disability claim approved.
Obama's Budget: Has He Gone Too Far, or Not Far Enough?
Megan McArdle
April 5, 2013
The corroboration that apparently led him to put faith in Ben-Menashe's testimony was retroactive.
Reagan's "October Surprise" is Still Getting Debunked
Noah Kristula-Green
April 26, 2012
Despite his red-hot debate showings—and a retroactive win in Iowa—Senator Sweatervest was basically a nonfactor in Florida.
Florida Primary: Rick Santorum’s Daughter’s Illness
Michelle Cottle
February 1, 2012

Historical Examples of retroactive

There is not any question that we do not want to make it retroactive.
Arguments before the Committee on Patents of the House of Representatives, conjointly with the Senate Committee on Patents, on H.R. 19853, to amend and consolidate the acts respecting copyright
United States Committee on Patents
“Retroactive to the time I started working on the story,” added Penny.
Clue of the Silken Ladder
Mildred A. Wirt
On the other hand, the retroactive effects of true charity are most beneficial.
The Moral Instruction of Children
Felix Adler
This is what occurs in the retroactive attitude of the head.
Delsarte System of Oratory
Various
Love is expressed by a retroactive, never by a forward movement.
Delsarte System of Oratory
Various

British Dictionary definitions for retroactive

retroactive

adjective

applying or referring to the pastretroactive legislation
effective or operative from a date or for a period in the past

Derived Formsretroactively, adverbretroactiveness or retroactivity, noun

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

Word Origin and History for retroactive

adj.

1610s, from French rétroactif (16c.) "casting or relating back," from Latin retroact-, past participle stem of retroagere "drive or turn back," from retro- "back" (see retro-) + agere "to drive, set in motion" (see act (v.)). Related: Retroactively.