retro
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.looking like something from the past, especially in a cool or fashionable way.
adj.imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.
Simple“The café has a retro look with neon signs and old posters.”
In context“The interior designer opted for a retro aesthetic, incorporating mid-century modern furniture and bold geometric patterns reminiscent of the 1970s.”
PitfallI bought a retro dress from 1960. I bought a vintage dress from 1960.Use 'vintage' for actual old items; use 'retro' for new items made to look old.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.styles or clothes that were popular in the past.
n.clothing, furniture, or styles that are characteristic of the recent past.
Simple“She loves retro and spends her weekends looking for old vinyl records.”
In context“The collection is a sophisticated exercise in retro, blending silhouettes from the 1940s with modern technical fabrics.”
Borrowed from French rétro, ultimately from Latin retro.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.