retro

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro ˈre-(ˌ)trō 

: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned

a retro look

retro noun

retro-

2 of 2

prefix

1

: backward : back

retro-rocket

2

: situated behind

retroperitoneal

Synonyms

Adjective

• antique
• old-fashioned
• old-school
• old-time
• old-timey
• old-world
• oldfangled
• quaint
• retrograde
• vintage

Examples of retro in a Sentence

Adjective

the retro look in fashion

retro fashions that seek to capture the lost glamour of Hollywood in the 1930s

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

However, this more retro documentarian form is often broken up by a roving lens that seems to fall, most often, on religious tradition and iconography, as though Cordero were looking to the region’s Hindu and Buddhist traditions for cinematic enlightenment. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 25 Dec. 2024

For a more intimate experience, head to Takadanobaba, where the Mikado Game Center has a solid selection of retro machines, and the nearby Natsuge Museum is a fantastic stop for pinball fanatics. —Reece Rogers, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024

The Mandarin Hide Tasty craft cocktails and retro speakeasy vibes keep this beloved bar — that’s been a staple along Central Avenue since 2010 — perpetually popping. —Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2024

These modern additions bring a pop of color and a fun, retro vibe to indoor and outdoor displays. —Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French rétro, short for rétrospectif retrospective

Prefix

Latin, from retro, from re- + -tro (as in intro within) — more at intro-

First Known Use

Adjective

1972, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing retro

• retro-rocket

Kids Definition

retro

1 of 2 adjective

ret·​ro ˈret-rō 

: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past

retro-

2 of 2 prefix

: backward : back

retro-rocket

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin re- "back, again" and Latin -tro (the final part of intro "within")