retroactively

[ re-troh-ak-tiv-lee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

in a way that includes or refers to events that happened before the relevant rule, decision, or other measure came into effect:
One other state has just passed a Racial Justice Act, but it doesn’t allow any of the inmates now on death row to file claims retroactively.

Discover More

Other Words From

non·ret·ro·ac·tive·ly adverb
un·ret·ro·ac·tive·ly adverb

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of retroactively¹

retroactive ( def ) + -ly

Discover More

Example Sentences

The ordinance also applies retroactively, barring renovation-based evictions that were pending before the vote took place.

From Los Angeles Times

"Voters may not be retroactively disenfranchised based upon technical defects in their voter registration," the brief states.

From Salon

But I think a lot of that is what we’ve decided retroactively.

From Los Angeles Times

“No statute allows NIH to unilaterally alter all current grants retroactively,” the filing alleges.

From Los Angeles Times

In the case, the Republican candidate, appellate court judge Jefferson Griffin, is ultimately seeking to have the GOP-led state Supreme Court hand him a victory by retroactively invalidating around 65,000 voters.

From Salon

retroactive inhibition retrobulbar

Browse