'Retroactive' definitions:
Definition of 'retroactive'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on the effects of events or stimuli or process that occurred previously [ant: proactive]
adjective
Affecting things past; "retroactive tax increase"; "an ex- post-facto law"; "retro pay" [syn: ex post facto, retroactive, retro]
Definition of 'Retroactive'
From: GCIDE
- Retroactive \Re`tro*act"ive\, a. [Cf. F. r['e]troactif.] Fitted or designed to retroact; operating by returned action; affecting what is past; retrospective. --Beddoes. [1913 Webster]
- Retroactive law or Retroactive statute (Law), one which operates to make criminal or punishable, or in any way expressly to affect, acts done prior to the passing of the law. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'retroactive'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- a priori,
- antiphonal,
- back,
- backward,
- early,
- ex post facto,
- into the past,
- reacting,
- reactionary,
- reactive,
- recessive,
- reflex,
- reflexive,
- refluent,
- regressive,
- respondent,
- responding,
- responsive,
- retroactionary,
- retrocessive,
- retrograde,
- retrogressive,
- retrospective,
- revulsive