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

See Examples For:

retroactively

What about voters who already cast their ballots, does the high court’s ruling apply retroactively?

From Slate ● Sep. 25, 2026

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is tweaking its measurement of the cost of investment management, software and legal services, and it will apply changes retroactively to the past five years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

The measure retroactively applies a tax on billionaires who were residing in California as of Jan. 1.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Companies would retroactively select grant dates that produced the most favorable option prices for executives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

In 1994, Hanna Damasio has an idea of how to construct one retroactively.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman