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Retrospective: meaning, definitions and examples

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retrospective

 

[ ˌrɛtrəˈspɛktɪv ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

looking back on or dealing with past events or situations

Relating to or concerned with past events; looking back on or dealing with past events or situations.

Synonyms

historical, reminiscent, retroactive

Examples of usage

  • A retrospective exhibition of the artist's work
  • A retrospective study of the company's performance over the past decade
Context #2 | Noun

a review, survey, or contemplation of things in the past

An exhibition or compilation showing the development of the work of a particular artist over a period of time.

Synonyms

contemplation, review, survey

Examples of usage

  • The museum is hosting a retrospective of Picasso's early drawings
  • The retrospective of the director's films was well-received by critics

Translations

Translations of the word "retrospective" in other languages:

🇵🇹 retrospectivo

🇮🇳 पश्चदृष्टि

🇩🇪 rückblickend

🇮🇩 retrospektif

🇺🇦 ретроспективний

🇵🇱 retrospektywny

🇯🇵 回顧的

🇫🇷 rétrospectif

🇪🇸 retrospectivo

🇹🇷 geriye dönük

🇰🇷 회고적인

🇸🇦 استعادي

🇨🇿 retrospektivní

🇸🇰 retrospektívny

🇨🇳 回顾的

🇸🇮 retrospektiven

🇮🇸 aftursýnn

🇰🇿 ретроспективті

🇬🇪 რეტროსპექტიული

🇦🇿 retrospektiv

🇲🇽 retrospectivo

Etymology

The word 'retrospective' originated in the early 17th century from the Latin word 'retrospectus', which means 'looking back'. It has been used in English to describe things that are related to or deal with past events or situations. The term is commonly used in art to refer to exhibitions that showcase an artist's work over a period of time. The concept of retrospection is deeply ingrained in human nature as we often reflect on the past to gain insights for the future.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,589, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.