retrospective
[ re-truh-spek-tiv ]
/ ˌrɛ trəˈspɛk tɪv /
adjective
directed to the past; contemplative of past situations, events, etc.
looking or directed backward.
retroactive, as a statute.
noun
an art exhibit showing an entire phase or representative examples of an artist's lifework.
any exhibition or series of showings or performances, as of musical works or motion pictures, representing the work of an artist or performer over all or a major part of a career: a retrospective of John Ford's movies.
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Origin of retrospective
Related formsret·ro·spec·tive·ly, adverbret·ro·spec·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for retrospective
British Dictionary definitions for retrospective
retrospective
/ (ˌrɛtrəʊˈspɛktɪv) /
adjective
looking or directed backwards, esp in time; characterized by retrospection
applying to the past; retroactive
noun
an exhibition of an artist's life's work or a representative selection of it
Derived Formsretrospectively, adverbretrospectiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for retrospective
retrospective
1660s, from retrospect + -ive. As a noun, from 1964, short for retrospective exhibition (1908), etc. Related: Retrospectively.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper