ENGLISH
REFERENCE

retro

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɹɛtɹoʊ// UK //ɹˈɛtɹəʊ// retro

n. looking like something from the past. You use this to describe clothes, music, or furniture that copy a style from a few decades ago.

n. imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past. Often used to describe aesthetic choices that evoke nostalgia for the mid-to-late 20th century.


SIMPLE

She loves wearing retro dresses from the 1950s.

CONTEXTUAL

The new diner has a retro look with neon signs and red vinyl booths.

COMPLEX

The game's developers opted for a retro pixel-art style to appeal to players who grew up during the sixteen-bit era of home consoles.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from French rétro, ultimately from Latin retro.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; can also follow linking verbs like 'look' or 'feel'.

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