retrospective

/ˈrɛtrəˌspɛktɪv/

/rɛtrəʊˈspɛktɪv/

Other forms: retrospectives

Retrospective means looking back. An art exhibit that cover an artist's entire career is called a retrospective because it looks back at the work the artist has produced over many years.

Retro- means back, -spect- means look (think: spectacles), so the word means literally 'a looking back.' Many people take a retrospective look at their lives on birthdays or on New Year's Eve to evaluate events and see how well they've met their goals. You could call the yearly evaluation you get from your boss a retrospective review of your work.

Definitions of retrospective

1. adjective

   concerned with or related to the past
   “retrospective self-justification”

   synonyms:

   backward

   directed or facing toward the back or rear

   ex post facto, retro, retroactive

   affecting things past

   antonyms:

   prospective

   of or concerned with or related to the future

   future

   yet to be or coming

   likely, potential

   expected to become or be; in prospect

   future

   effective in or looking toward the future
2. noun

   an exhibition of a representative selection of an artist's life work
   type of:

   art exhibition

   an exhibition of art objects (paintings or statues)