retrofit
re·tro·fit/ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈfɪt/verb, noun
retrofit is spelled R-E-T-R-O-F-I-T: 8 letters and 3 syllables (re·tro·fit). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 35,748th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, retrofit means “To supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; to modernize” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in retrofit?
| Letters | 8: R-E-T-R-O-F-I-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: re·tro·fit |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 35,748th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is retrofit?
Retrofit appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 35,748th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce retrofit?
- UK /ˌɹɛtɹəʊˈfɪt/
- UK /ˈɹɛtɹə(ʊ)ˌfɪt/
- US /ˌɹɛtɹoʊˈfɪt/
Retrofit has 3 syllables, split re·tro·fit in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-retrofit.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with retrofit?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as retrofit from its last stressed vowel (/ɪt/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of retrofit
- retrofits present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- retrofitting participle, present
- retrofitted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does retrofit mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; to modernize.
- 2
To add or substitute (new components or parts) that were not previously available for or installed in a device, structure, etc.
- 3
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
To give new characteristics or make alterations (to someone or something) to suit them to changed circumstances.
- 5
To supply a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed.
noun
- 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.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Retrofit in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | nachrüsten, umrüsten , Nachrüsten, Umrüsten |
| Spanish | modernizar , corrección retroactiva |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does retrofit come from?
The verb is derived from retro- (prefix meaning ‘back; backward’) + fit (“to equip, supply”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).