regressive

adjective

re·​gres·​sive ri-ˈgre-siv 

1

: tending to regress or produce regression

2

: being, characterized by, or developing in the course of an evolutionary process involving increasing simplification of bodily structure

3

: decreasing in rate as the base increases

a regressive tax

regressively adverb

regressiveness noun

regressivity

ˌrē-ˌgre-ˈsi-və-tē 

noun

Examples of regressive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Will voters in the deep-blue State of Oregon vote for a regressive sales tax? —Bill Conerly, National Review, 26 Sep. 2024

Some of the comments suggested that women should be restricted to domestic roles rather than participating in sports, revealing the persistence of regressive gender attitudes even among younger generations of gaming fans. —Lindsey Darvin, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024

An undeviating policy of U.S. restraint risks giving free rein to decidedly regressive forces in the world—such as China’s authoritarian influence across the global South, Iran’s financing of terrorism in the Middle East, and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. —Jonathan B. Petkun, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024

Repealing the cap without making other changes in tax law would be enormously expensive and a highly regressive windfall for the highest income households. —Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

regressive

adjective

re·​gres·​sive ri-ˈgres-iv 

1

: of, relating to, or tending toward regression

2

: gradually decreasing

a regressive tax

Medical Definition

regressive

adjective

re·​gres·​sive ri-ˈgres-iv 

: relating to, resulting from, producing, or characterized by regression

regressive behavior

regressive tissue changes