What is retrospect? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of retrospect

retrospectnoun
hồi tưởng
/ˈretrəspekt//ˈretrəspekt/

Where does the word retrospect come from?

The word "retrospect" originated in the mid-1700s in the English language, derived from a combination of two Latin words: "retro" meaning "backward" and "spect" meaning "view" or "looking." Initially, the term "retrospective" was used in a medical context, describing a physical examination to determine the cause of an ailment based on its symptoms. Later, it came to include a broader meaning of looking back on past events or experiences, often for the purpose of learning and reflection. Today, "retrospect" commonly refers to the process of reviewing past achievements, mistakes, or trends, especially in business, education, or project management, to identify opportunities for improvement and guide future decisions.

Vocabulary summary retrospect

type noun

meaning retrospect

example in [the] retrospect: look back (on something)

meaning (rare word, rare meaning) backward looking

meaning (legal), (rare word, rare meaning) retroactive

Example of vocabulary retrospectnamespace

As I sit here reflecting on the past year, I can't help but look back with a retrospective view on the events that shaped my life.
In retrospect, I should have listened to my gut and trusted my intuition rather than going along with the crowd.
When we decided to start our own business, we had no idea what the future held. But looking back now, it's clear that every obstacle we faced only made us stronger.
The success of our marketing campaign can be seen in hindsight, as the return on investment exceeded our wildest expectations.
After the collapse of the relationship, I spent weeks in retrospection, trying to understand where things went wrong and what I could have done differently.