retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv 
: extending in scope or effect to a prior time or to conditions that existed or originated in the past
especially
: made effective as of a date prior to enactment, promulgation, or imposition
retroactive tax
retroactively
adverb
Did you know?
We normally think of time as constantly moving forward. Since retroactive seems to defy time's forward movement, retroactive taxes, laws, and regulations are often seen as particularly obnoxious and unfair. But nobody ever objects to receiving a retroactive raise at work. When we judge historical people and events in terms of present-day morality and attitudes, our retroactive judgments may indicate that we're too impressed with ourselves and ignorant of history.
Examples of retroactive in a Sentence
They all received a retroactive pay raise.
The new tax will be retroactive to January 1.
Recent Examples on the Web
Invest your retroactive Social Security check into your own small business, Kohler said.
—
Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
The average retroactive payment through March 4 is $6,710, the SSA said on Tuesday.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2025
Liccardo wants to subject violators to criminal and civil penalties while stopping them from profiting from an asset issued before the bill's enactment -- giving it retroactive element intended to address the launch of $TRUMP.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, the agency said in a statement, and higher monthly benefits should be reflected in April.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
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Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
The average retroactive payment through March 4 is $6,710, the SSA said on Tuesday.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2025
Liccardo wants to subject violators to criminal and civil penalties while stopping them from profiting from an asset issued before the bill's enactment -- giving it retroactive element intended to address the launch of $TRUMP.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Most people will receive their one-time retroactive payment by the end of March, the agency said in a statement, and higher monthly benefits should be reflected in April.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retroactive
Cite this Entry
“Retroactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retroactive. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv
: intended to apply or take effect at a date in the past
a retroactive pay raise
retroactively
adverb
Medical Definition
retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv
: having relation or reference to or efficacy in a prior time
specifically
: relating to, caused by, or being obliteration of the results of learning by immediately subsequent activity
retroactive inhibition
Legal Definition
retroactive
adjective
ret·ro·ac·tive
ˌre-trō-ˈak-tiv
: extending in scope or effect to a prior time or to conditions that existed or originated in the past
especially
: made effective as of a date prior to enactment, promulgation, or imposition
a retroactive tax
see also ex post facto law
retroactively
adverb
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