retroact

R1E1T1R1O1A1C3T1

verb

To act retrospectively or in opposition

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Meanings

verbretroact (third-person singular simple present retroacts, present participle retroacting, simple past and past participle retroacted)

present singular third person retroacts · participle present retroacting · participle past retroacted · past retroacted

  1. To act retrospectively or in opposition

    In their eyes the past was good or bad for itself, and the present good or bad for itself, and an evil past could no more shadow a virtuous present than a virtuous present could retroact to brighten or redeem an ugly past.

    1884, Edward Bellamy, “Chapter 15”, in Miss Ludington's Sister
  2. to be retrospective.
  3. lawTo apply (a law) retroactively to situations that predate the enactment of the law.

    Sec. 4. The effectivity of this Act shall retroact to January 1, 2001.

    2001, Republic of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 9010

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
behedgefrustratehinderhurtincommodeinhibitlimitthwart

Origin

From retro- + act.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French rétroagir
  • rétroagirto act backward, or in return; to act in opposition; to be retrospective
Italian retroagire
  • retroagireto act backward, or in return; to act in opposition; to be retrospective
Portuguese retroagir
  • retroagirto act backward, or in return; to act in opposition; to be retrospective
Cite this entry
APA

retroact. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retroact

MLA

“retroact.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retroact. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retroact,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retroact.

Source: retroact on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.