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during World War II, when weapons technology was advancing at an intense pace and planes and ships were becoming outdated even before their construction was complete, and the only solution was to retrofit the completed craft with the brand-new technology.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

British Airways, the only European carrier to offer first class cabins between London and the United States, recently announced plans to retrofit its A380 planes, ensuring travelers cross the pond in the best premium cabins. —Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Dec. 2024

The details get trickier when miners consider building a data center from scratch or retrofitting an existing one, the most expensive option to deploy AI at scale. —Colin Harper, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

That’s because that’s not a thing anywhere except for in a script that desperately needs to retrofit Vince Vaughn into the North Pole. —Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024

The administrative building in Waukegan had a recent entrance renovation, and is planned to be retrofitted with bird-friendly improvements. —Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 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