retrospective
/ˌrɛtrəˈspɛk.tɪv/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Looking back at past events, or using knowledge from the present to judge the past. It often describes a careful review of what happened.
- We had a retrospective meeting after the project ended.
- Her article was a retrospective look at the last decade.
noun
An exhibition, show, or review that presents work from an artist, film-maker, or period in the past.
- The gallery opened a retrospective of her paintings.
- I saw a film retrospective at the festival.
Adinary Nuance
Retrospective is more formal than looking back and more specific than review. Use it when you mean a planned reflection on the past, especially in business, research, or art. It often sounds more thoughtful and organized than memory or summary.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hồi cứu
- Spanish
- retrospectivo
- Chinese
- 回顾性的
- Japanese
- 回顧的な
- Korean
- 회고적인
Etymology
From Latin retrospectivus, based on retrospectus, from retro- meaning “back” and spectare meaning “to look.” It entered English in the 17th century.
Common phrases
retrospective reviewretrospective studyretrospective exhibitionretrospective meeting
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is retrospective formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. People use it in academic, business, and art contexts.
- What is the difference between retrospective and review?
- A review is a general look at something. A retrospective looks back at the past in a more reflective way.
- How do I use retrospective in a sentence?
- You can say, “We held a retrospective meeting,” or “It was a retrospective analysis.”
- Can retrospective be a noun?
- Yes. It can mean an exhibition or show of past work.