retro

1 of 2

adjective

ret·​ro ˈre-(ˌ)trō How to pronounce retro (audio)
Synonyms of retronext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Whitehead took this cue and created a retro-futuristic base in freezing, no-man’s-land Antarctica, leaning into the Millennium Falcon spaceship for design cues. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026 The scents come in glass bottles with a retro appeal and details winking to the house’s couture tradition, such as the metal logo intertwining with a safety pin and a vintage-looking pear pump sprayer adorned with the fabrics of the ateliers. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 May 2026 Wrapped in puff pastry with slivers of jalapeño peppers, these retro pigs in a blanket will disappear fast at any party. Shelly Westerhausen Worcel, Midwest Living, 18 May 2026 This retro tennis shoe combines suede and nylon materials, creating a cool textural element to its design. Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for retro

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retro. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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")

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