Dictionary

retrofit en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɛtɹə(ʊ)ˌfɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹɛtɹoʊˌfɪt/ (General-American)
• /ˌɹɛtɹəʊˈfɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈfɪt/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

The verb is derived from retro- (prefix meaning ‘back; backward’) + fit (“to equip, supply”). The noun, which is first attested later than the verb, is either derived: * from the verb (see above); or * from retro- + fit (“act of fitting; conformity of elements one to another”).

Meanings

1. An act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; a retrofitting.
2. A change made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed.

Forms

Deriveds

post-retrofit

Relateds

refit · upgrade

Translations (15)

fi jälkikäteisasennus (change made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed) · es corrección retroactiva (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · fi jälkikäteisasentaminen (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · ca retroinstal·lació (change made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed) · ja 後付け (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · de Nachrüsten (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · tr teknik uyarlama (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · it retrofit (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · ca retroinstal·lació (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · fi jälkikäteisasennus (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · de Umrüsten (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · fi jälkikäteisasennettu (change made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed) · ko 개비 (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · ja あとづけ (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting) · ca correcció retroactiva (act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also retrofitting)

retrofit en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɛtɹə(ʊ)ˌfɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɹɛtɹoʊˌfɪt/ (General-American)
• /ˌɹɛtɹəʊˈfɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈfɪt/ (General-American)

Etymology

The verb is derived from retro- (prefix meaning ‘back; backward’) + fit (“to equip, supply”). The noun, which is first attested later than the verb, is either derived: * from the verb (see above); or * from retro- + fit (“act of fitting; conformity of elements one to another”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; to modernize.
   • The project involves retrofitting Google’s Pixel smartphones to certain subway cars to collect sounds and other data and feed it into Google’s Cloud. […] When asked why the devices were retrofitted on older models instead of newer ones, Sarno said the MTA typically uses older car models when making modifications in case there are any unwanted effects. 2025 March 9, Nic F. Anderson, “Tired of subway delays? The MTA wants to fix that by strapping Google smartphones to New York trains”, in CNN:
   • Trams dating from 2012 have been retro-fitted with lithium batteries, with the conversions starting in 2018. 2020 January 2, Richard Clinnick, “Midlands Metro Welcomes New Catenary-free Trams”, in Rail, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 16:
2. (transitive) To add or substitute (new components or parts) that were not previously available for or installed in a device, structure, etc.
3. (transitive) Synonym of backport (“to retroactively supply a fix or feature to a previous version of a software product at the same time or after supplying it to the current version.”).
   • The bug was so bad that we had to retrofit our patch to the last three releases, as well as the newest release.
4. (figuratively, transitive) To give new characteristics or make alterations (to someone or something) to suit them to changed circumstances.
5. (intransitive) To supply a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed.

Forms

Deriveds

retrofitter · retrofitment · retrofitted · retrofitting · retrogreen · retrofittable · seismic retrofit

Relateds

refit

Synonyms

backport · backfit · backfit

Translations (13)

mk осовре́мени ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · ja 後付けする ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · mk модернизи́ра ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · de nachrüsten ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · it riequipaggiare ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · fi sovittaa (to give new characteristics or make alterations (to someone or something) to suit them to changed circumstances) · de umrüsten ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · fi asentaa jälkikäteen ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · es modernizar ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · fi asentaa jälkikäteen ((transitive) to add or substitute (new components or parts) that were not previously available for or installed in a device, structure, etc.) · ja あとづけする ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · ca modernitzar ((transitive) to supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed — see also modernize) · fi saada jälkikäteisasennuksena ((intransitive) to supply a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed)