retrofit

verb

ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit How to pronounce retrofit (audio)
ˌre-trō-ˈfit
retrofitted or retrofit; retrofitting; retrofits

transitive verb

1
: to furnish (something, such as a computer, airplane, or building) with new or modified parts or equipment not available or considered necessary at the time of manufacture
2
: to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed
3
: to adapt to a new purpose or need : modify
retrofit the story for a new audience
retrofit
ˈre-trō-ˌfit
noun

Did you know?

The concept of retrofitting became an urgent necessity during World War II, when weapons technology was advancing at an intense pace and planes and ships were becoming outdated even before their construction was complete, and the only solution was to retrofit the completed craft with the brand-new technology. Retrofitting was revived on a massive scale during the energy crisis of the 1970s, when new features were added to millions of old houses to make them more energy-efficient. Retrofitting is thus different from merely renovating, which may not involve any new technology at all.

Examples of retrofit in a Sentence

The factory has been retrofitted to meet the new safety regulations. We can retrofit your car with the new fuel system.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
British Airways, the only European carrier to offer first class cabins between London and the United States, recently announced plans to retrofit its A380 planes, ensuring travelers cross the pond in the best premium cabins. Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Dec. 2024 The details get trickier when miners consider building a data center from scratch or retrofitting an existing one, the most expensive option to deploy AI at scale. Colin Harper, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 That’s because that’s not a thing anywhere except for in a script that desperately needs to retrofit Vince Vaughn into the North Pole. Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024 The administrative building in Waukegan had a recent entrance renovation, and is planned to be retrofitted with bird-friendly improvements. Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for retrofit 

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of retrofit was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near retrofit

Cite this Entry

“Retrofit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrofit. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

retrofit

verb
ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit How to pronounce retrofit (audio)
: to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed

More from Merriam-Webster on retrofit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!