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.

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Other Word Forms

nonretroactively adverb
unretroactively adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of retroactively¹

retroactive ( def. ) + -ly

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Congress retroactively approved Lincoln's recess suspension of the privilege in 1863.

From

“It is unfair and could raise legal concerns to retroactively change the rules.”

From

Since your husband died the month that the two provisions stopped applying, the amount Social Security may owe him retroactively is likely small, if anything.

From

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

From

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

From

retroactive inhibition retrobulbar

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