English · Word Candidate

retro

/ˈɹɛt.ɹəʊ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: retros · retroes

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of, or relating to, the past, past times, or the way things were.

Adjective

Examples

Scientists say that while the public may think of the moon as a problem solved and a bit retro – the place astronauts visited a half-dozen times way back before Watergate and then abandoned with a giant "meh" from mankind – in fact, lunar studies is a vibrant enterprise that is yielding a wealth of

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Affecting things past; retroactive, ex post facto.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Past fashions or trends.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A chess puzzle of retrograde analysis, requiring the solver to work out the history of moves leading to the position presented.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “retro” mean?

Of, or relating to, the past, past times, or the way things were.

Is “retro” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.