retrospective
ret·ro·spec·tive/ˌɹɛt.ɹəˈspɛk.tɪv/adjective, noun
retrospective is spelled R-E-T-R-O-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E: 13 letters and 4 syllables (ret·ro·spec·tive). It appears 3.0 times per million words in written English, the 15,368th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, retrospective means “Of, relating to, or contemplating the past” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in retrospective?
| Letters | 13: R-E-T-R-O-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4: ret·ro·spec·tive |
| In writing | 3.0 times per million words; the 15,368th 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 retrospective?
Retrospective appears 3.0 times per million words in written English, the 15,368th 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 retrospective?
- UK /ˌɹɛt.ɹə(ʊ)ˈspɛk.tɪv/
- UK [ˌɹɛt͡ʃ.ə(ʊ)ˈspɛk.tɪv]
- US /ˌɹɛt.ɹəˈspɛk.tɪv/
Retrospective has 4 syllables, split ret·ro·spec·tive in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-GB-retrospective.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with retrospective?
10 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as retrospective from its last stressed vowel (/ɛktɪv/):
- perspective
- objective
- respective
- protective
- directive
- corrective
- introspective
- overprotective
- imperfective
- surjective
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 retrospective
- more retrospective comparative
- most retrospective superlative
- retrospectives plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does retrospective mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of, relating to, or contemplating the past.
- 2
Looking backwards.
- 3
Affecting or influencing past things; retroactive.
noun
- 1
An exhibition of works from an extended period of an artist's activity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate retrospective?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of retrospective: retro.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Retrospective in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | rétrospectif |
| German | rückblickend, rückschauend , zurückblickend , rückwirkend , Retrospektive |
| Portuguese | retrospectivo, retrospetivo |
| Spanish | retrospectivo , retrospectiva |
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 retrospective come from?
From retrospect + -ive. From Latin retrōspectus, perfect passive participle of retrōspiciō (“to look back at”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).