adj.
Pronunciation: - ' ak-tiv
Function: adjective
Etymology: French rétroactif, from Latin retroactus, past participle of retroagere to drive back, reverse, from retro- + agere to drive ― more at AGENT
Date: 1611
: extending in scope or effect to a prior time or to conditions that existed or originated in the past especially : made effective as of a date prior to enactment, promulgation, or imposition < retroactive tax>
– ret · ro · ac · tive · ly adverb
– ret · ro · ac · tiv · i · ty \ - ˌ ak- ' ti-v ə -t ē \ noun