retrofit

verb

ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit How to pronounce retrofit (audio)
ˌre-trō-ˈfit
retrofitted or retrofit; retrofitting; retrofits

transitive verb

1
: to furnish (something, such as a computer, airplane, or building) with new or modified parts or equipment not available or considered necessary at the time of manufacture
2
: to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed
3
: to adapt to a new purpose or need : modify
retrofit the story for a new audience
retrofit
ˈre-trō-ˌfit
noun

Did you know?

The concept of retrofitting became an urgent necessity during World War II, when weapons technology was advancing at an intense pace and planes and ships were becoming outdated even before their construction was complete, and the only solution was to retrofit the completed craft with the brand-new technology. Retrofitting was revived on a massive scale during the energy crisis of the 1970s, when new features were added to millions of old houses to make them more energy-efficient. Retrofitting is thus different from merely renovating, which may not involve any new technology at all.

Examples of retrofit in a Sentence

The factory has been retrofitted to meet the new safety regulations. We can retrofit your car with the new fuel system.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But most of these tools are horizontal, retrofitted, or inspiration-only. Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Alaska Airlines is working to retrofit their fleet to meet the mandate and already has six airplanes that have 25-hour CVRs. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 June 2025 United Airlines' plans to retrofit its entire regional fleet with Starlink connectivity have hit a roadblock, at least temporarily. Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 June 2025 Since Russian forces invaded it in February 2022, Ukraine has also been retrofitting cheap and readily available commercial drones so they can be deployed on the battlefield. Ellison Barber, NBC news, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for retrofit

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of retrofit was in 1949

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Cite this Entry

“Retrofit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrofit. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

retrofit

verb
ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit How to pronounce retrofit (audio)
: to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed

More from Merriam-Webster on retrofit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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