Syntaxiom

retroactively

/ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈæktɪvɫi/ adv

Done after the fact; applying to events that have previously transpired.

Word Origin Retroactively is built from Latin 'retro' (backward) and 'agere' (to do). So something done retroactively is done backward in time — acting on the past. The same 'retro' prefix appears in retrograde (moving backward) and retrospect (looking back). The 'act' root gives us active, action, and react.

adv Done after the fact; applying to events that have previously transpired.

The new policy was applied retroactively to all cases from the previous year.

(副词) 追溯性地；溯及既往地

新政策被追溯适用于去年所有的案例。

(adverbio) Hecho después del hecho; que se aplica a eventos que ya han ocurrido.

La nueva política se aplicó retroactivamente a todos los casos del año anterior.

(adverbe) rétroactivement; a posteriori; ex post [Avec un effet rétroactif, en s'appliquant à des événements passés.]

La nouvelle politique a été appliquée rétroactivement à tous les dossiers de l'année précédente.

(Adverb) rückwirkend; mit rückwirkender Kraft [**rückwirkend** (Adverb): nachträglich geltend; auf bereits vergangene Ereignisse anwendbar.]

Die neue Regelung wurde **rückwirkend** auf alle Fälle des Vorjahres angewendet.

(副詞) すでに過ぎ去った事柄に対して後から適用される様子で。

新しい方針は前年度のすべての事例に遡って適用されました。

(advérbio) retroativamente; retroativamente; ex post facto [Feito depois do fato; aplicando-se a eventos que já transcorreram.]

A nova política foi aplicada retroativamente a todos os casos do ano anterior.

Synonyms: retrospectively ex post facto backdated Antonyms: proactively in advance beforehand prospectively
Word parts: retro + act + ive + ly

Related words

active act action actor activate activity activist actual agent agency

Get offline access, pronunciation, spaced repetition, and learning games:

Download Syntaxiom →
📱 Offline access 🔊 Pronunciation 🧠 Spaced repetition 📖 Native language bridges