retro

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro ˈre-(ˌ)trō How to pronounce retro (audio)
: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned
a retro look
retro noun

retro-

2 of 2

prefix

1
: backward : back
retro-rocket
2
: situated behind
retroperitoneal

Examples of retro in a Sentence

Adjective the retro look in fashion retro fashions that seek to capture the lost glamour of Hollywood in the 1930s
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
There’s nothing more chic and retro than this Cordless Table Lamp that is a must-have for your desk or bedside. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2024 Her dress — a long, low v-neck halter dress by Patou — also had a retro vibe with the black beaded embellishments in clusters polka-dotted all over. Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 Bar Jackie and the retro Italian restaurant Dear Jackie are love letters to Hayden's mother. Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2024 Its white stripes around the collar and arms remind me of a retro baseball tee and would pair so well with white sneakers. Laura Lu, Parents, 23 Feb. 2024 This sneaker boutique can set you up with anything from retro Jordans to one-of-a-kind pieces from their local artist series. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The opening sequence is set to a swooning, somewhat retro score by Dabney Morris, the titles rendered in a swooping pink cursive font. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024 Also located in NoMad, The Press Club Grill re-imagines many retro dishes for the palette of today’s patrons. Rana Good, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 There’s no denying that retro sneakers are a bonafide thing. Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retro.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French rétro, short for rétrospectif retrospective

Prefix

Latin, from retro, from re- + -tro (as in intro within) — more at intro-

First Known Use

Adjective

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of retro was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near retro

Cite this Entry

“Retro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retro. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

retro

1 of 2 adjective
ret·​ro ˈret-rō How to pronounce retro (audio)
: relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past

retro-

2 of 2 prefix
: backward : back
retro-rocket
Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin re- "back, again" and Latin -tro (the final part of intro "within")

More from Merriam-Webster on retro

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