What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
retroactively
Example
The new policy was applied retroactively, affecting all employees who had worked for the company in the past year. [retroactively: adverb]
Example
The court ruling was retroactive, meaning that it applied to cases that had already been decided. [retroactive: adjective]
retrospectively
Example
Retrospectively, I realized that I should have taken a different approach to the situation. [retrospectively: adverb]
Example
The study analyzed the data retrospectively to identify patterns and trends. [retrospectively: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retrospectively is more commonly used than retroactively in everyday language. Retrospectively is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while retroactively is less common and is typically used in legal or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between retroactively and retrospectively?
Retroactively is more formal and legalistic than retrospectively. It is often used in legal or regulatory contexts to describe actions or decisions that are applied to past events. Retrospectively, on the other hand, is more commonly used in everyday language and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
