retro
RE-troh
/ˈretrəʊ/
Imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.
Retro usually refers to newly made items that imitate past styles, or items from the recent past (1960s–1990s) that have a nostalgic, stylized appeal.
The story behind the word. The term emerged in France in the 1970s ('mode rétro') to describe fashion and films that looked back to the style of the interwar period. It was quickly adopted into English to describe the cultural obsession with recycling styles from previous decades.
Word relationships
- nostalgic: Nostalgic refers to a sentimental longing for the past, while retro refers specifically to the physical style or design that evokes that past.
- futuristic: Futuristic refers to designs or styles that look ahead to the future rather than imitating the past.
Commonly confused with
- vintage: Vintage items are genuinely old (at least 20 years), while retro items can be brand new but designed to look like they are from a past era.
Word family
- retrospective (noun/adjective): An exhibition or compilation showing the development of an artist's work over a period of time.
Collocations
- retro style
- retro fashion
- retro look
- retro gaming
Example sentences
- "The diner was decorated in a retro style, complete with neon signs and red vinyl booths." Interior design choices.
- "He bought a retro-style record player that had modern Bluetooth capabilities built inside." A description of modern technology.
Memory hook
Retro makes you look 'back' (retro-grade) at old styles. Looking back in style.
When not to use
Do not use for items that are genuinely ancient (like Roman coins) or items that do not intentionally mimic a past style.
Fun facts
- Retro gaming (playing classic video games from the 80s and 90s) has become a massive industry, leading companies like Nintendo to re-release miniature versions of their classic consoles.
Explore more words
nostalgia, synthetic, homage, retrospective, outdated, retrospect
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