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Retroactively for Dummies

pronunciation: ,rɛtroʊ'æktɪvli

What does Retroactively really mean?

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Hey there! So, I heard you were curious about the word "retroactively." Well, not to worry, I'm here to help break it down for you in the simplest way possible.

Alright, let's imagine you have a time machine, and you're able to travel back in time. Now, think about a situation where you made a decision or did something, but later you realized that you made a mistake or that your decision wasn't the best one. Now, what if you could go back and change what you did so it never happened in the first place? Well, that's where the term "retroactively" comes in.

So, my friend, "retroactively" is basically when something is done or applied to the past, even though it was decided or took effect at a later time. It's like changing something in the past after the fact, as if it never happened. It might seem a bit confusing, but think of it as kind of rewriting history.

Let me give you an example to make things clearer. Imagine you have a pet cat named Fluffy, and you didn't follow the rules one day and took Fluffy for a walk without a leash. The next day, you realize it was a mistake to do so, and now there is a new rule that says all pets must be on a leash. Now, the school office tells you that your actions have consequences, and the school needs to enforce the new rule by giving you a detention. But, they also say that they will consider your actions "retroactively." This means that they will apply the new rule to the past, as if it existed when you took Fluffy for a walk, and now you won't be given a detention.

See, retroactively is like changing the rules of the game, after the game has already been played. It's like fixing something in the past based on new information or a change in circumstances.

In a nutshell, "retroactively" means applying something to the past that took effect at a later time, as if it had been in place all along. It's a way of rewriting history or changing the rules after the fact. So, my friend, I hope that explanation helped you understand the word "retroactively" a bit better! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Revised and Fact checked by Stephanie Wilson on 2023-10-29 17:03:20

Retroactively In a sentece

Learn how to use Retroactively inside a sentece

  • If you forgot to do your homework yesterday, your teacher might let you submit it retroactively today.
  • If you pay your utility bill late, you may have to pay a retroactively added late fee.
  • Sometimes, people are given a raise at work and it is retroactively applied to their past paychecks.
  • If you forgot to bring your lunch to school, you can't retroactively eat it for lunch.
  • If you forget to sign a permission slip for a field trip, your parent can't retroactively give permission for you to go.

Retroactively Pertains To

Words to which the original word is relevant