retrospective

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro·​spec·​tive ˌre-trə-ˈspek-tiv 

1

a(1)

: of, relating to, or given to retrospection

(2)

: based on memory

a retrospective report

b

: being a retrospective

a retrospective exhibition

2

: affecting things past : retroactive

retrospective laws

3

: relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition

retrospectively adverb

retrospective

2 of 2

noun

: a generally comprehensive exhibition, compilation, or performance of the work of an artist over a span of years

broadly : review sense 7a

a retrospective of 20th century haute couture

Did you know?

At the end of the year, both introspection and retrospection are common. While introspection involves looking inward and taking stock of oneself, retrospection is all about recollecting and contemplating things that happened in the past. A look back at the history of the related adjective retrospective reveals that it retains a strong connection to its past; its Latin source is retrospicere, meaning “to look back at.” Retrospective can also be used as a noun referring to an exhibition that “looks back” at an artist’s work created over a span of years. Once you have retrospective and retrospection behind you, you can also add their kin retrospect and retro to your vocabulary, too.

Examples of retrospective in a Sentence

Adjective

They issued a retrospective report.

a retrospective analysis of what went wrong

The museum is having a retrospective exhibit of the artist's early works.

Noun

The museum is featuring a retrospective of Picasso's early works.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Benglis has made a jewelry line for Loewe, and the cover of Anderson’s ten-year Loewe retrospective highlights not one of his own designs but a work of Hamilton’s—a vastly oversized pumpkin fashioned from leather and shot for the Loewe Fall/Winter 2022 campaign. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025

Disney first confirmed in a New York Times retrospective interview in May 2023 that a sequel to the film was in development, with both stars in talks to return. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025

Noun

Collection of Suzi and Andrew B. Cohen © Cecily Brown A visitor traveling through the mid-career retrospective is struck by how much of Brown’s work is in resistance to being a painter, or in reaction to it. —Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025

Highlights include interviewing the CEO of Hermès, Robert Chavez on the Maison’s new flagship for Forbes.com, Valentino on his major retrospective for CR Fashion Book, and Isabel Marant for MUSE’s fashion issue. —Felicity Carter, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for retrospective

• ineffective
• intellective
• introspective
• irrespective
• nondirective
• nonselective
• unreflective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

retrospective

1 of 2 adjective

ret·​ro·​spec·​tive ˌre-trə-ˈspek-tiv 

: of, relating to, or given to retrospection

retrospectively adverb

retrospective

2 of 2 noun

: an exhibition, compilation, or performance of work that an artist has done in the past

Medical Definition

retrospective

adjective

ret·​ro·​spec·​tive -ˈspek-tiv 

1

a

: of, relating to, or given to introspection

b

: relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition compare prospective

2

: based on memory

retrospectively adverb

Legal Definition

retrospective

adjective

ret·​ro·​spec·​tive ˈre-trə-ˌspek-tiv 

: affecting things past : retroactive

specifically : of, relating to, or being a law that takes away or impairs vested rights, creates new duties or obligations, or attaches new disabilities with respect to acts and transactions completed before its enactment

retrospectively adverb