retroaction

R1E1T1R1O1A1C3T1I1O1N1

noun

Any action that has an influence due to a past event

OriginEnglish action ← Middle English accioun ← Old French aucion →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounretroaction (countable and uncountable, plural retroactions)

plural retroactions

  1. countableuncountableAny action that has an influence due to a past event
  2. countableuncountableAn opposing action; a reaction

Origin

  1. Proto-Italic*wre-
  2. Latinre-
  3. Latinretrō
  4. Englishretro-
  5. Old Frenchaucion
  6. Middle Englishaccioun
  7. Englishaction
  8. Englishretroaction

From retro- + action.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French rétroaction
  • rétroactionaction with an influence due to a past event
Irish aisghníomhú
  • aisghníomhúaction with an influence due to a past event
Italian retroazione, retroazione
  • retroazioneaction with an influence due to a past event
  • retroazioneopposing reaction
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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