retroactive
pronunciation
How to pronounce retroactive in British English:
UK [ˌretrəʊˈæktɪv]
How to pronounce retroactive in American English:
US [ˌretroʊˈæktɪv]
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- Adjective:
- descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on the effects of events or stimuli or process that occurred previously
- affecting things past
Word Origin
- retroactive (adj.)
- 1610s, from French rétroactif (16c.) "casting or relating back," from Latin retroact-, past participle stem of retroagere "drive or turn back," from retro- "back" (see retro-) + agere "to drive, set in motion" (see act (v.)). Related: Retroactively.
Example
- 1. And the plan should be retroactive to mr. obama 's march 30 announcement .
- 2. And wto members should further improve the organization by making tribunal decisions retroactive .
- 3. The criminal law is not a retroactive law .
- 4. But the supreme court for more than 200 years has said that not all laws with retroactive effect are unconstitutional .
- 5. Experts say a pure retroactive extension might be constitutional , but they doubt one is feasible at this late date .