Retro

/ˈrɛtroʊ/

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonArts
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Relating to, or reminiscent of, an earlier style or fashion, especially from the recent past.

/ˈrɛtroʊ/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
Arts

Imitating or suggestive of an earlier period or style.

The restaurant had a retro diner feel.

💡 Simply: Like something that's from an older time period, but is coming back in style! Imagine wearing your grandma's clothes and calling it retro. Or an old-school game!

👶 For kids: Something that looks like it's from the past, like old toys or clothes.

More Examples

2

She loves retro music from the 80s.

3

The retro design of the car was very appealing.

How It's Used

Fashion

"She wore a retro dress from the 1960s."

Design

"The apartment had a retro kitchen with vintage appliances."

Technology

"They developed a retro video game console."

2

A style that is imitative of a style or trend from the recent past, especially the 1960s and 1970s.

/ˈrɛtroʊ/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A style that is imitative of a style or trend from the recent past.

The store sells retro furniture.

💡 Simply: It's when people like a particular style from the past! Like a whole look of clothes or designs from a certain time period.

👶 For kids: A kind of style that looks like something from a long time ago, like clothes or toys.

More Examples

2

She's always buying retro clothes.

3

The retro trend is still popular among young people.

How It's Used

Art & Design

"The museum had a special exhibition on retro design."

Tip:Think of 'retro' as a style itself.

Idioms & expressions

retro chic

A style characterized by a revival of fashionable trends of the past.

"The designer's collection was described as retro chic, blending vintage elements with modern designs."

retro gaming

Playing or collecting old video games.

"Retro gaming is becoming very popular, with people rediscovering classic titles."

From Latin *retro* meaning 'backward' or 'behind'. Its modern usage, particularly in design and fashion, emerged to describe styles that consciously imitate or derive from the past.

The term 'retro' gained popularity in the 1970s, initially used in fashion and design to describe revivalist styles. Its usage has expanded across various fields, including music, technology, and interior design.

Memory tip

Think 'backward looking' for something retro.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"backward, behind"

retro styleretro fashionretro designretro musicretro games

Common misspellings

retrowretroe

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written