Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

retroactively

/ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈæktɪvli/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.94 in modern English

Syllables: retroac-tive-ly
IPA: /ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈæktɪvli/

21

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

5

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Done after the fact; applying to events that have previously transpired.

Example Sentences

"The new legislature passed a resolution retroactively legalizing the actions of the revolutionaries that brought them to power."
"Although it has been already hinted at the link between the human ability to exchange roles and the citizens' right to retroactively adjust unfitting remarks or gestures to the situation, the same connection could perhaps be better[…]"
"Over the weekend, the Trump administration ignored a federal judge’s order not to deport a group of Venezuelan men, then later tried to retroactively justify its actions with arguments so distant from settled law and ordinary practice that legal experts have said they border on frivolous."

Etymology

Etymology tree English retroactive Middle English -ly English -ly English retroactively From retroactive + -ly.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈæktɪvli/

Rhymes With

actively attractively

Questions

How do you pronounce retroactively?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈæktɪvli/.
What does retroactively mean?: Done after the fact; applying to events that have previously transpired.
Where does retroactively come from?: Etymology tree English retroactive Middle English -ly English -ly English retroactively From retroactive + -ly.

How to pronounce retroactively

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “retroactively”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈæktɪvli/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “retroactively”.
Repeat and practice — Say “retroactively” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.