Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

retroactive

/ˌɹɛ.tɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.92 in modern English

Syllables: retroac-tive
IPA: /ˌɹɛ.tɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/

16

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions

Example Sentences

"Lenin's retroactive view of history was of course nothing in comparison to the systematic falsification of Stalin's day, when it had to be shown at all costs that the current assessment of individuals and political movements was equally valid for all past years."
"Rather, he hoped there was some legal trickeration he could deploy to get a retroactive water right filed and end-run the opposition."
"Can such a child be ennobled by the passage of time, his struggles granted retroactive gravitas and his childish confusions rearticulated with adult clarity?"
"Such assumptions can motivate expressions of cisgenderism such as retroactive misgendering (in which a person's past is described using language that disregards or contrasts with their current designation of their gender) […]"

Etymology

First attested in 1610. From French rétroactif, equivalent to retro- + active.

Origin

First known use: First attested in 1610

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌɹɛ.tɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/
British English: /ˌɹɛt.ɹəʊˈæk.tɪv/

Derived Forms

nonretroactive retcon retroactively retroactiveness retroactivity

Phrases

retroactive rape ex post facto

Frequently Paired Words

retroaction ex post facto retrospective

Synonyms

ex post facto retro

Rhymes With

active attractive interactive radioactive inactive reactive proactive unattractive refractive hyperactive overactive photorefractive

Questions

How do you pronounce retroactive?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌɹɛ.tɹoʊˈæk.tɪv/.
What does retroactive mean?: Extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Where does retroactive come from?: First known use: First attested in 1610.

How to pronounce retroactive

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