retroactive
Effective from before
Retroactive describes something that applies to a period before it was enacted or established.
A retroactive pay raise compensates for months already worked.
A retroactive law punishes acts that were legal when committed.
The tax cut was made retroactive to January 1.
The word often appears in legal and bureaucratic contexts where present decisions must reach backward in time.
Enacted after the fact
- backdatingAssigning earlier date falsely
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- after-the-factOccurring post-event
- backward-lookingOriented toward the past
Enacted after the fact
- statuteEnacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- amendmentChange to official text
jurisprudence · unconstitutional · due process · grandfather clause · vested rights · nullification · judicial review · repeal
Change to official text
- rectificationAct of setting straight
- redressCompensation for injury
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- revisionAltering to improve
emendation · modification · reinstatement · restoration · reversal · annulment · recalculation · restatement
Reassessing something's worth
- reevaluationJudging something anew
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
- reappraisalNew assessment of value
- reanalysisStudying something again
review · rethinking · hindsight · second-guessing · retrospection · reexamination · reflection · contextualization
Overdue salary owed
- wage adjustmentChange in earnings rate
- salary increaseHigher compensation rate
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- arrearsOverdue financial obligations
lump sum · cost-of-living · bonus · settlement · reimbursement · union contract · raise · benefits
Retroactive narrative revision
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- timelineOrdered display of events
- rebootCycle power intentionally
prequel · origin story · expanded universe · flashback · plot hole · franchise · worldbuilding
ex post facto
Enacted after the fact
- backdatingAssigning earlier date falsely
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- after-the-factOccurring post-event
ex post facto
Enacted after the fact
- statuteEnacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
amendment · jurisprudence · unconstitutional · due process · grandfather clause · vested rights · nullification · judicial review · repeal · codification
amendment
Change to official text
- rectificationAct of setting straight
- redressCompensation for injury
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
revision · emendation · modification · reinstatement · restoration · reversal · annulment · recalculation · restatement · reclassification
revaluation
Reassessing something's worth
- reevaluationJudging something anew
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
- reappraisalNew assessment of value
reanalysis · review · rethinking · hindsight · second-guessing · retrospection · reexamination · reflection · contextualization · perspective
back pay
Overdue salary owed
- wage adjustmentChange in earnings rate
- salary increaseHigher compensation rate
- compensationPayment for services rendered
arrears · lump sum · cost-of-living · bonus · settlement · reimbursement · union contract · raise · benefits
retcon
Retroactive narrative revision
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- timelineOrdered display of events
reboot · prequel · origin story · expanded universe · flashback · plot hole · franchise · worldbuilding
- government termslegislative, federal agencies, congressional, state agencies, parliamentary
retroactiveprospective
Expected in the future
forward-looking · nonretroactive · going forward · proactive · anticipatory
retroactiveproactive
Acting before problems arise
anticipatory · preemptive · preventive · forward-thinking · precautionary
- retroactive payCompensation applied to earlier periods