retroactively

[re-troh-ak-tiv-lee]

adverb

1. in a way that includes or refers to events that happened before the relevant rule, decision, or other measure came into effect.

   One other state has just passed a Racial Justice Act, but it doesn’t allow any of the inmates now on death row to file claims retroactively.

Other Word Forms

• nonretroactively adverb
• unretroactively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of retroactively¹

retroactive ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The evidence might have been admissible under a change in California law passed in 2020, which lowered the standard for charging officers in fatal use-of-force cases, but it did not apply retroactively, Hochman said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

An annex detailed the new exclusions from this 40-percent duty, and they are to be retroactively applied to November 13.

Read more on Barron's

The agency said the household survey data aren’t able to be retroactively collected for October.

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“The household survey data is not able to be retroactively collected,” the agency said.

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While much of the business-side data can be reconstructed, officials say, the household survey, which relies on reaching people directly, was impossible to conduct retroactively without risking unreliable results.

Read more on Salon