Dictionary

retroactivity en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree English retroactive Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English retroactivity From retroactive + -ity.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The state or characteristic of being retroactive.
2. (uncountable, usually) The application of a law to events that took place before it was made.
   • it must be pointed out that the distinction between retroactivity and retrospectivity, while describing a real difference in the verbal form in which retrospective law is expressed, lacks normative and practical significance. 2008, Ben Juratowitch, Retroactivity and the Common Law, page 12:
   • Should the legislation pass with the retroactivity provision, the firm's percentage would apply to the amount already due the states; if not, it would apply to the amount they collect over the next 12 years. 1994 May 6, Todd Purdum, “New Yorkers in Congress at War With a Lawyer”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 03 Feb 2023:

Forms

Deriveds

nonretroactivity

Synonyms

retroactiveness

Translations (5)

ga cúlghabhálacht (law: the application of a law to events that took place before it was made) · ga aisghníomhaíocht (the state or characteristic of being retroactive) · sv retroaktivitet (law: the application of a law to events that took place before it was made) · cs retroaktivita (law: the application of a law to events that took place before it was made) · sv retroaktivitet (the state or characteristic of being retroactive)