retrograde
adj.adj. moving backward or getting worse instead of better. You use this to describe things that return to an older, less advanced way of doing things.
adj. directed or moving backward; reverting to an earlier, inferior, or less complex condition.
The new law is a retrograde step for workers' rights.
Astronomers observed the planet in retrograde motion, appearing to move backward against the stars from our perspective on Earth.
The administration's decision to reintroduce coal subsidies was widely criticised as a retrograde policy that ignored decades of environmental progress and renewable energy innovation.
The adjective is derived from Middle English retrograd, retrograde (“of a planet: appearing to move in a direction opposite to the order of the zodiac signs, retrograde; unfortunate”), from Middle French retrograde and Old French retrograde (“of a celestial object: appearing to move backwards; moving backwards; reverse; palindromic; opposed to change”) (modern French rétrograde), and from their etymon Latin retrōgradus (“of a celestial object: appearing to move backwards”) (compare Late Latin retrōgradus (“reverse; palindromic”)), from retrō (“back, backwards; behind; before, formerly”) + gradus (“pace, step”). By surface analysis, retro- + -grade. The adverb and noun are derived from the adjective.
From Middle French retrograder (“to (cause to) go back, return; to (cause to) move backwards; of a celestial object: to show retrograde motion; to date to an earlier period”) (modern French rétrograder), and from its etymon Latin retrōgradī (“to go or step back or backwards; of a celestial object: to show retrograde motion”) (compare Late Latin retrogradare, retrogradari, retrogredere), from retrō (“back, backwards; behind; before, formerly”) + gradior (“to step, walk; to advance, go”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰredʰ- (“to go; to walk”)).
Often used to describe movements, policies, or astronomical orbits; frequently pairs with 'step' or 'motion'.