retroactively apply

verb phrase

Meaning

Put a rule, policy, or decision into effect for a period of time that has already passed.

Examples

The company chose to retroactively apply the new safety standards to all machines manufactured in the last decade.
They cannot retroactively apply the new parking fee to tickets that were issued before the signs were installed.

Synonyms: backdate, apply retrospectively

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retroactively apply

verb phrase

Pronunciation: ˌrɛtrəˈæktɪvli əˈplaɪ

Definition

Put a rule, policy, or decision into effect for a period of time that has already passed.

Examples

The company chose to retroactively apply the new safety standards to all machines manufactured in the last decade.
They cannot retroactively apply the new parking fee to tickets that were issued before the signs were installed.
The court ruled that the legislature did not have the authority to retroactively apply the tax increase to previous fiscal years.

Synonyms of retroactively apply

Words with a similar meaning to retroactively apply:

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