retrospective C2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction US /ˌɹɛt.ɹə(ʊ)ˈspɛk.tɪv/ See IPA manual Freq #36346 Meanings 1 adj Looking back on or relating to the past. The article gives a retrospective look at the decade's biggest news stories. 2 adj Taking effect from a date in the past; retroactive. The new tax rules are retrospective and apply to last year's earnings. 3 noun An exhibition showing work from across an artist's whole career. The gallery is holding a retrospective of the photographer's forty-year career. Thesaurus Synonyms 2 adj · taking effect from a date... retroactive More hindsightlyhistoricalreflective ↔ Opposites forward-lookingprospective Word family Forms retrospectivelyretrospectives Derived forms miniretrospectiveretrospectivelyretrospectivenessretrospectivity Etymology AI details From retrospect + -ive. From Latin retrōspectus, perfect passive participle of retrōspiciō (“to look back at”). retrōspectus Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Space, Position & Direction Time Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # retrospective **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** adj, noun **IPA (US):** /ˌɹɛt.ɹə(ʊ)ˈspɛk.tɪv/ **Frequency rank:** 36346 ## Meanings 1. Looking back on or relating to the past. 2. Taking effect from a date in the past; retroactive. 3. An exhibition showing work from across an artist's whole career. ## Examples - The article gives a retrospective look at the decade's biggest news stories. - The new tax rules are retrospective and apply to last year's earnings. - The gallery is holding a retrospective of the photographer's forty-year career. ## Synonyms - hindsightly - historical - reflective ## Antonyms - forward-looking - prospective ## Derived Forms - miniretrospective - retrospectively - retrospectiveness - retrospectivity ## Roots and Affixes - Root: retrōspectus ## Etymology From retrospect + -ive. From Latin retrōspectus, perfect passive participle of retrōspiciō (“to look back at”). ## AI Etymology Retrospective is formed from retrospect + -ive. From Latin retrōspectus, perfect passive participle of retrōspiciō (“to look back at”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include retrōspectus (Latin). Current senses include looking back on or relating to the past and taking effect from a date in the past; retroactive. The wider family includes derived forms such as miniretrospective, retrospectively, retrospectiveness, and retrospectivity. ## Topics - Space, Position & Direction - Time - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown