Etymology

retroactive

R1E1T1R1O1A1C3T1I1V4E1

Today it means: Extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions. Full definition →

French rétroactif
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The story

  1. French · derived fromrétroactif
  2. English todayretroactive

First attested in 1610. From French rétroactif, equivalent to retro- + active.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.