retrospectively

American  

[re-truh-spek-tiv-lee] / ˌrɛ trəˈspɛk tɪv li /

adverb

1. with contemplation of past situations, events, etc..

   You should examine your relationship retrospectively.

2. with retrospective effect; retroactively.

   The law operates retrospectively.

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Etymology

Origin of retrospectively

First recorded in 1600–10; retrospective ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Explanation

Doing something retrospectively means being conscious of what happened previously, or applying something new to past events. When you retrospectively comment on blog posts, you go back and comment on old articles. If you speak retrospectively, you talk about past events, and if a museum retrospectively honors an artist, it often displays work stretching back through her entire career. If your raise at work applies retrospectively, that means you'll get additional pay from days you worked in the past, as well as the future. The Latin root of retrospectively is retrospicere, "look back."

Example Sentences

The new calculus retrospectively cherry-picks which carbon emissions count.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

It may recount turbulent times in history—but not retrospectively.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The move does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programmes, and the IOC said the findings of any tests would not be applied retrospectively.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Andrea Thompson was awarded the title retrospectively after American athlete Jammie Booker was disqualified.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2025

Even Lavoisier did not understand oxygen properly: discovery is often an extended process, and one that can be identified only retrospectively.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton