# retrograde

/ˈɹɛtɹəˌɡɹeɪd/ (US) · /ɹˌɛtɹəʊɡɹˈeɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retrograde
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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.

For teachers: directed or moving backward; reverting to an earlier, inferior, or less complex condition.

## Examples

- 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used to describe movements, policies, or astronomical orbits; frequently pairs with 'step' or 'motion'.

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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.