What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
retroactive
Example
The new tax law is retroactive to January 1st of this year. [retroactive: adjective]
Example
The company decided to give its employees a retroactive pay raise for the past six months. [retroactive: adjective]
Example
The court ruling was retroactively applied to all similar cases. [retroactively: adverb]
retrogressive
Example
The new government policies are seen as retrogressive and harmful to social progress. [retrogressive: adjective]
Example
The company's decision to cut employee benefits is a retrogressive step. [retrogressive: adjective]
Example
The country's economy is experiencing a retrogressive trend due to poor management. [retrogressive: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retroactive is more commonly used than retrogressive in everyday language. Retroactive is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while retrogressive is more limited in scope and typically used in social, political, or economic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between retroactive and retrogressive?
Both retroactive and retrogressive are formal words that are typically used in legal, academic, or professional contexts.
