Meanings
present singular third person retrofits · participle present retrofitting · participle past retrofitted · past retrofitted
- transitiveTo supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; to modernize.
Trams dating from 2012 have been retro-fitted with lithium batteries, with the conversions starting in 2018.
2020 January 2, Richard Clinnick, “Midlands Metro Welcomes New Catenary-free Trams”, in Rail, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 161 more example
The project involves retrofitting Google’s Pixel smartphones to certain subway cars to collect sounds and other data and feed it into Google’s Cloud. […] When asked why the devices were retrofitted on older models instead of newer ones, Sarno said the MTA typically uses older car models when making modifications in case there are any unwanted effects.
2025 March 9, Nic F. Anderson, “Tired of subway delays? The MTA wants to fix that by strapping Google smartphones to New York trains”, in CNNSynonyms: backfit
- transitiveTo add or substitute (new components or parts) that were not previously available for or installed in a device, structure, etc.
Synonyms: backfit
- transitivecomputingSynonym of backport (“to retroactively supply a fix or feature to a previous version of a software product at the same time or after supplying it to the current version.”).
The bug was so bad that we had to retrofit our patch to the last three releases, as well as the newest release.
Synonyms: backport
- figurativelytransitiveTo give new characteristics or make alterations (to someone or something) to suit them to changed circumstances.
- intransitiveTo supply a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed.
plural retrofits
- An act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; a retrofitting.
- A change made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed.
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; to modernize.
verbTo add or substitute (new components or parts) that were not previously available for or installed in a device, structure, etc.
verbSynonym of backport (“to retroactively supply a fix or feature to a previous version of a software product at the same time or after supplying it to the current version.”).
Origin
The verb is derived from retro- (prefix meaning ‘back; backward’) + fit (“to equip, supply”). The noun, which is first attested later than the verb, is either derived: * from the verb (see above); or * from retro- + fit (“act of fitting; conformity of elements one to another”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan modernitzar, correcció retroactiva
- modernitzar(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- correcció retroactivaact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
- retroinstal·lacióact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
- retroinstal·lacióchange made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed
Finnish asentaa jälkikäteen, asentaa jälkikäteen
- asentaa jälkikäteen(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- asentaa jälkikäteen(transitive) to add or substitute (new components or parts) that were not previously available for or installed in a device, structure, etc.
- sovittaato give new characteristics or make alterations (to someone or something) to suit them to changed circumstances
- saada jälkikäteisasennuksena(intransitive) to supply a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed
- jälkikäteisasennusact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
- jälkikäteisasentaminenact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
- jälkikäteisasennuschange made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed
- jälkikäteisasennettuchange made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed
German nachrüsten, umrüsten
- nachrüsten(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- umrüsten(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- Nachrüstenact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
- Umrüstenact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
Italian riequipaggiare, retrofit
- riequipaggiare(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- retrofitact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
Japanese 後付けする, あとづけする
- 後付けする(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- あとづけする (atozuke suru)(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- 後付けact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
- あとづけ (atozuke)act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
Korean 개비
- 개비 (gaebi)act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
Russian модернизи́ровать, осовреме́нивать
- модернизи́ровать (modɛrnizírovatʹ)(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- осовреме́нивать (osovreménivatʹ)(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- осовреме́нить (osovreménitʹ)(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
Spanish modernizar, corrección retroactiva
- modernizar(transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize
- corrección retroactivaact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
Turkish teknik uyarlama
- teknik uyarlamaact of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting
Cite this entry
retrofit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrofit
“retrofit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrofit. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retrofit,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrofit.
Source: retrofit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.