retroactive to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retroactive to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the time at which a law, rule, decree, or decision begins. For example, "The company's new policy is retroactive to July 1, 2020."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The measure is retroactive to June 1.

The New York Times - Health

The move is retroactive to Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

The raises are retroactive to April 1.

The New York Times

The move is retroactive to Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

It would be retroactive to July 2000.

The New York Times

The move is retroactive to last Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

The move was retroactive to Aug. 13.

The New York Times - Sports

Marrero is retroactive to March 29.

The New York Times - Sports

The move was made retroactive to Tuesday.

The New York Times

The deal was made retroactive to January.

The New York Times

It's retroactive to the beginning of this year.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “retroactive to” when referring to policies, laws, or agreements that have a past effective date. This makes it clear that the changes apply to actions or situations that occurred before the current date.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "retroactive to" implies an unlimited reach into the past. Always clarify the specific scope and limitations of the retroactivity to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retroactive to" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating the starting point from which a decision, rule, or law takes effect. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in referring to the commencement of a law or policy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

20%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "retroactive to" is a prepositional phrase used to specify the date from which a decision, rule, or law becomes effective, applying it to a period prior to the present. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in diverse contexts, including news, business, and sports. Common alternatives include "effective from" and "applying since", though each carries slight nuances. When using "retroactive to", ensure the specified date is unambiguous to avoid confusion. According to the usage patterns, it's most common in News & Media, Formal & Business and Sports.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

effective from

Specifies the starting date of effect, focusing on the beginning of the period.

with effect from

A more formal version of "effective from".

in effect as of

Similar to effective from, but adds a sense of official implementation.

applying since

Highlights the period from a specific date onward.

applicable from

Highlights the period from a specific date onward.

dating back to

Emphasizes the historical aspect of the application.

taking effect on

Focuses on the date something becomes operational.

going back to

Indicates a reach into the past.

from the date of

Specifies the origin of the effect.

operative since

Similar to applying since, but emphasizes operational status.

FAQs

How is "retroactive to" used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "retroactive to" specifies when a law, amendment, or decision takes effect, often impacting past actions. For example, "The amendment was made "retroactive to January 2003"", meaning it applies to events from that date onward.

What's a simple way to understand "retroactive to"?

"Retroactive to" means something applies as if it started on a date in the past. A salary increase could be "retroactive to April 1", meaning you get paid the higher rate for work done since April 1, not just from the present day.

What are some alternatives to "retroactive to"?

Alternatives include "effective from", "applying since", or "in effect as of". Each emphasizes the start date of the effect. For instance, you might say "The new policy is "effective from" July 1" instead of "retroactive to".

When is it appropriate to use "retroactive to"?

Use "retroactive to" when referring to policies, laws, or agreements that have a past effective date. This makes it clear that the changes apply to actions or situations that occurred before the current date. This is commonly seen in legal documents, employment contracts, and financial agreements.