retroactivity
- noun
- /ˌrɛtroʊækˈtɪvɪti/
- Formal
- The law's retroactivity means it can affect cases that occurred before it was passed.
Examples
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The debate over the retroactivity of the regulations is crucial for those impacted by past decisions.
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Given both the deterrent effect of public executions and the notice period and absence of retroactivity, it is unlikely that any more than 15-25% of the adult population would actually be put to death.
Blog text (10) -
You can't always do retroactivity super well, but what we'll talk about are situations you can do well and what you can do in general.
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Retroactivity is an important issue for U.S. authors and publishers.
Academic text (1999) -
More particular principles of considerable current importance disfavor retroactivity.
Academic text (2001) -
Even worse, the new legislation included retroactivity, so that convictions prior to 1997 can also bring about deportation.
Blog text (26) -
With respect to the second factor, investor-backed expectations, Justice O'Connor focused mainly on the retroactivity of the Coal Act in Eastern Enterprises.
Academic text (2000) -
The incongruity in the government's retroactivity positions under CERCLA on the record review and statute of limitations issues is revealed in the following passage from a government brief arguing for a prospective-only statute of limitations:
Academic text (1990) -
She concludes that "Fun Home engages some of queer theory's most timely issues: teleology, historicism, fantasy, and the retroactivity of identity" (357).
Academic text (2016) -
Many advocates argue that the retroactivity of the new policy could lead to unfair outcomes for certain individuals.
Surface Forms
Morphology
retroactivity = retroactive (transparent) = retro + active + ity
Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ity' to the adjective 'retroactive', yielding a predictable abstract noun.
Etymology
Retroactivity comes from the parts retro- 'back' and act 'to do'. So, retroactivity means a rule or decision 'acts back' on earlier events and applies to things that already happened.