Dictionary
retroactive
if a law or decision, etc. is retroactive, it has effect from a date before it was enacted
The Court gave the decision retroactive effect, meaning that it applied to all cases that were then pending.
Phrase Bank
- There is nothing in the law that says Congress intended it to be retroactive.
- Federal judges are required to take this into consideration before making a retroactive decision.
- Additional provisions in the Act permit retroactive application of the terrorist provisions.
Additional Notes
- Retrospective and retroactive are synonyms. The Latin phrase ex post facto also has the same meaning, The US Constitution contains a prohibition against ex post facto laws.