# retro

/ˈɹɛtɹoʊ/ (US) · /ɹˈɛtɹəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retro
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. imitation of past style

adjective · CEFR B1

looking like something from the past, especially in a cool or fashionable way.

For teachers: imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.

- The café has a retro look with neon signs and old posters.
- The interior designer opted for a retro aesthetic, incorporating mid-century modern furniture and bold geometric patterns reminiscent of the 1970s.

### 2. past fashions or trends

noun · CEFR B2

styles or clothes that were popular in the past.

For teachers: clothing, furniture, or styles that are characteristic of the recent past.

- She loves retro and spends her weekends looking for old vinyl records.
- The collection is a sophisticated exercise in retro, blending silhouettes from the 1940s with modern technical fabrics.

## Examples

- She loves wearing retro dresses from the 1950s.
- The new diner has a retro look with neon signs and red vinyl booths.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.