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retroactive

 - 5 dictionary results

ret⋅ro⋅ac⋅tive

  [re-troh-ak-tiv]
Use retroactive in a Sentence
–adjective
1. operative with respect to past occurrences, as a statute; retrospective: a retroactive law.
2. pertaining to a pay raise effective as of a past date.
Origin:
1605–15; retro- + active

Related forms:
ret⋅ro⋅ac⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
ret⋅ro⋅ac⋅tiv⋅i⋅ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To retroactive
ret·ro·ac·tive   (rět'rō-āk'tĭv)   
adj.  Influencing or applying to a period prior to enactment: a retroactive pay increase.

[French rétroactif, from Latin retroāctus, past participle of retroagere, to drive back : retrō-, retro- + agere, to drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
ret'ro·ac'tive·ly adv., ret'ro·ac·tiv'i·ty n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

retroactive 
1611, from Fr. rétroactif (fem. rétroactive) "casting or relating back," from L. retroactus, pp. of retroagere "drive or turn back," from retro- "back" + agere "to drive, set in motion" (see act).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ret·ro·ac·tive
Pronunciation: "re-trO-'ak-tiv
Function: adjective
: 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> —see also EX POST FACTO LAW —ret·ro·ac·tive·ly adverb —ret·ro·ac·tiv·i·ty /-ak-'ti-v&-tE/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ret·ro·ac·tive
Pronunciation: "re-trO-'ak-tiv
Function: adjective
: having relation or reference to or efficacy in a priortime; specifically : relating to, caused by, or being obliteration of the results of learning by immediately subsequent activity <retroactive inhibition>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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