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• retro
  retro

  adjective

  retroactive.
• retro-
  retro-

  a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin meaning “backward” (retrogress ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (retrorocket ).

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

See Examples For:

retro retro-

It’s an underrated, retro way to discover songs you’ve never heard, songs by artists you love, and songs by artists you forgot you love.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

An employee in Glasgow told the BBC that retro kits were among the biggest sellers, along with a T-shirt saying "We'll Be Coming 26" - popular among Tartan Army members travelling to America.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

The definition for what constitutes a liminal space has been debated, but most are sparsely populated and vaguely retro.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

His first effort featured a  cyan-colored Virgin Mary image layered on a retro Chivas tee, which gained traction on his Instagram account.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

“You know how Cake, sorry, I mean Keiko, was all into those boring old black-and-white movies? I got her to watch better retro movies, from the eighties.”

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

We did this by firing our retro- rockets, four solid-propellant rockets mounted in our tail.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins