retroactive
adjective/ˌrɛtroʊˈæktɪv/
Frequency rank: #14,114 most common English word
Meaning
taking effect from a date in the past, before the law or rule was officially made.

Example sentence
The new tax law is retroactive to the beginning of the year, so everyone must recalculate their payments.
Synonyms & related words
- backdated
- retrospective
- backward
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