retrograde Definition
- 1directed or moving backwards
- 2reverting to an earlier and inferior condition
- 3having a backward motion or direction
Using retrograde: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "retrograde" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The planet appeared to be in retrograde motion.
Example
The company's retrograde policies led to a decline in profits.
Example
The country's economy is in a retrograde state.
Example
The new law is seen as a retrograde step for civil rights.
retrograde Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for retrograde
Antonyms for retrograde
Phrases with retrograde
a loss of memory for events that occurred before a traumatic event
Example
After the accident, he suffered from retrograde amnesia and couldn't remember anything from the previous week.
retrograde ejaculation
a medical condition where semen is ejaculated into the bladder instead of out through the penis during orgasm
Example
The patient was diagnosed with retrograde ejaculation after experiencing difficulty in conceiving a child.
an orbit in which a satellite or other object moves in the opposite direction to the rotation of its host planet
Example
The moon Phoebe has a retrograde orbit around Saturn.
Origins of retrograde
from Latin 'retrogradus', from 'retro-' meaning 'backwards' and 'gradus' meaning 'step'
Summary: retrograde in Brief
The term 'retrograde' [ˈrɛtrəʊɡreɪd] refers to a backward motion or direction, or a return to an earlier and inferior condition. It can describe physical motion, as in 'The planet appeared to be in retrograde motion,' or societal change, as in 'The new law is seen as a retrograde step for civil rights.' Other uses include medical conditions like 'retrograde amnesia' and 'retrograde ejaculation,' and scientific concepts like 'retrograde orbit.'
