retrospective

ret·ro·spec·tive

Use retrospective in a sentence

This vintage Italian motorcycle is a retrospective look at the way they were designed in the early 20th century.

This vintage Italian motorcycle is a retrospective look at the way they were designed in the early 20th century.

adjective

The definition of retrospective is looking back on something that happened in the past.

When you are interviewed about past events, this is an example of a retrospective interview.
An art exhibit showing an artists early works progressing to the artist's most recent works is an example of a retrospective exhibit.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp

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"retrospective." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 August 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective>.

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retrospective. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective

retrospective

looking back on or directed to the past, past events, etc.
looking or directed backward: a retrospective view of the river
applying to the past; retroactive

Origin of retrospective

retrospect + -ive

a representative exhibition of the lifetime work of an artist

Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"retrospective." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 August 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective>.

APA Style

retrospective. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective

retrospective

adjective

Looking back on, contemplating, or directed to the past.
Looking or directed backward.
Applying to or influencing the past; retroactive.
Of, relating to, or being a retrospective: a retrospective art exhibition.

noun

An exhibition or performance of works produced by an artist over a considerable period.

Related Forms:

ret′ro·spec′tive·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"retrospective." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 August 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective>.

APA Style

retrospective. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective

Adjective

(comparative more retrospective, superlative most retrospective)

of, relating to, or contemplating the past
looking backwards
affecting or influencing past things; retroactive

Noun

(plural retrospectives)

an exhibition of works from an extended period of an artist's activity

Origin

retrospect+-ive. from Latin retrospectare

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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MLA Style

"retrospective." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 August 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective>.

APA Style

retrospective. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective

retrospective - Legal Definition

See retroactive.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"retrospective." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 August 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective>.

APA Style

retrospective. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17th, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/retrospective

SentencesSentence examples

Sentence Examples

At this point, My Morning Jacket released two retrospective music collections chronically their early years - Early Recordings Chapter One: The Sandman Cometh and Early Recordings Chapter Two: Learning.
The retrospective exhibition of means of transport was interesting in view of the recent opening of the Simplon tunnel, the occasion of the exhibition.
The prose works touch on retrospective topics or deal with subjects of deep meditation.
This retrospective tendency was favourably regarded by the government.
He published Something of Men I have Known; With Some Papers of a General Nature, Political, Historical and Retrospective (1909).

Also Mentioned In

Words near retrospective in the dictionary