retroactively

American  

[re-troh-ak-tiv-lee] / ˌrɛ troʊˈæk tɪv li /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• nonretroactively
  adverb
• unretroactively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of retroactively

retroactive ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Things done retroactively take effect starting on a date in the past. If your boss pays you retroactively, she'll cover hours you worked in the past as well as the ones you're working today. If your water bill lists higher rates, and also announces that the new fees apply retroactively to January first, that means you already owe the water company extra money for past months. And if a musician becomes popular retroactively, it means that albums released years ago are just starting to be listened to in great numbers. Retroactively comes from the French rétroactif, "casting back," from the Latin roots retro-, "back," and agere, "to set in motion."

Example Sentences

The limits can also be put in place retroactively.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

“Because MMA‑specific monitoring was established later in the response, we cannot retroactively measure conditions from earlier in the day on May 21,” the agency said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

Still, Gao Zhen's case is remarkable – not only because he is seemingly being punished retroactively, but also because, as Johnson points out, Zhen "did not directly criticise the Communist Party, let alone Xi Jinping".

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Today both songs are regarded as key examples of the style that became known retroactively as yacht rock; on Spotify, each has more than 120 million streams.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The supervisor agreed to let him sign up for the special plan retroactively.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz