retrospective

UK: /ˌrɛtrəˈspɛktɪv/ US: /ˌrɛtrəˈspɛktɪv/ ,(re′trə spek′tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ret•ro•spec•tive /ˌrɛtrəˈspɛktɪv/   adj. 

1. of or relating to retrospection.
2. looking or directed backward.

n. [countable]

3. an exhibit showing an artist's lifework.

ret•ro•spec•tive•ly, adv. See -spec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ret•ro•spec•tive  (re′trə spek′tiv), adj. 

1. directed to the past;
   contemplative of past situations, events, etc.
2. looking or directed backward.
3. retroactive, as a statute.

n. 

4. an art exhibit showing an entire phase or representative examples of an artist's lifework.
5. any exhibition or series of showings or performances, as of musical works or motion pictures, representing the work of an artist or performer over all or a major part of a career:
   a retrospective of John Ford's movies.

• retrospect + -ive 1655–65

ret′ro•spec′tive•ly, adv. 
ret′ro•spec′tive•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

retrospective / ˌrɛtrəʊˈspɛktɪv/ adjective

1. looking or directed backwards, esp in time; characterized by retrospection
2. applying to the past; retroactive

noun

1. an exhibition of an artist's life's work or a representative selection of it

ˌretroˈspectively adverb