¹retrospective

adjective ret·ro·spec·tive \-ˈspek-tiv\

: of or relating to the past or something that happened in the past

: effective from a particular date in the past

Full Definition of RETROSPECTIVE

a (1) : of, relating to, or given to retrospection (2) : based on memory <a retrospective report>

b : being a retrospective <a retrospective exhibition>

: affecting things past : retroactive <retrospective laws>

: relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition

— ret·ro·spec·tive·ly adverb

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First Known Use of RETROSPECTIVE

1664

Rhymes with RETROSPECTIVE

cost-effective, house detective, imperfective, ineffective, intellective, introspective, nondirective, nonobjective, self-reflective, unselective

²retrospective

noun

: an exhibition of work that an artist has done in the past

Full Definition of RETROSPECTIVE

: a generally comprehensive exhibition, compilation, or performance of the work of an artist over a span of years; broadly : review 7a <a retrospective of 20th century haute couture>

See retrospective defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of RETROSPECTIVE

1932

Medical Dictionary

retrospective

adjective ret·ro·spec·tive \-ˈspek-tiv\

Medical Definition of RETROSPECTIVE

a : of, relating to, or given to introspection b : relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition—compare prospective

: based on memory

—ret·ro·spec·tive·ly adverb