retrospective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“While a memoir or formal autobiography aims to offer a retrospective story, the diary typically doesn’t, or can’t, because it is written from the middle of an unfolding life.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

This retrospective cohort study included 7,938 adults with overweight or obesity in Ohio and Florida.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

McQueen-Prince said the move would also affect pension funds which invest in freeholds and damage investor confidence in the UK because of the retrospective nature of the changes.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opened in 2021 with a retrospective dedicated to the grand master of Japanese animation.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

It is important here to distinguish between teleological history—the notion that history has a purpose or goal—and retrospective history, which seeks to study history as a process of development.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton