retroactive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on the effects of events or stimuli or process that occurred previously
  2. adjective satellite affecting things past
    retro; ex post facto.
    • retroactive tax increase
    • an ex-post-facto law
    • retro pay

WordNet


Re`tro*act"ive adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. rétroactif.
Definitions
  1. Fitted or designed to retroact; operating by returned action; affecting what is past; retrospective. Beddoes.

Webster 1913