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.
QUIZZES
IS YOUR DESERT PLANT KNOWLEDGE SUCCULENT OR DRIED UP?
Cactus aficionados, don't get left in the dust with this quiz on desert plants. Find out if you have the knowledge to survive this prickly foray into the desert!
Question 1 of 7
This tall, horizontally branched cactus is probably the most recognizable cactus in Arizona. What is it called?
Origin of retrospective
First recorded in 1655–65; retrospect + -ive
OTHER WORDS FROM retrospective
ret·ro·spec·tive·ly, adverbret·ro·spec·tive·ness, nounWords nearby retrospective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences 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 forms of retrospective
retrospectively, adverbretrospectiveness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012