retrofit

verb

ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit 

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during World War II, when weapons technology was advancing at an intense pace and planes and ships were becoming outdated even before their construction was complete, and the only solution was to retrofit the completed craft with the brand-new technology.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

The office, established in 2021, focuses on addressing the disproportionate effects of climate change on the city’s low-income and minority residents, as well as developing strategies for retrofitting its buildings and improving land use to account for flooding and extreme weather. —Zack Budryk, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024

For example, climate-resilient infrastructure projects - e.g. building flood defenses, upgrading transportation systems, and retrofitting buildings - are driving demand for construction experts, urban designers and environmental consultants, among many other roles. —Jamil Wyne, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

The vibe: The multi-room bar is retrofitted with lots of vintage wooden furniture that looks like it's set up for a séance in the Victorian era. —Megan Stringer, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024

In order to install the new first-class seats, Frontier will scrap the first two rows of three-by-three economy seats in its current fleet and retrofit the larger chairs in two-by-two rows at the front of the aircrafts. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

retrofit

verb

ret·​ro·​fit ˈre-trō-ˌfit 

: to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed