I. ret‧ro‧spec‧tive1 /ˌretrəˈspektɪv◂/
adjective [usually before noun]1. related to or thinking about the past:
a retrospective study of 110 patients2. British English a law or decision that is retrospective is effective from a particular date in the past
Synonym : retroactive:
retrospective legislation
Teachers settled for a 4.2% pay rise with retrospective effect from 1 April.—retrospectively adverb:
The new rule will be applied retrospectively. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲