1. reviewing past: looking back over things in the past
2. applying to past events: applying to things that have happened in the past as well as the present a retrospective ruling
3. arts containing past works: containing examples of work from many periods of an artist's life a retrospective exhibition
noun (pluralret·ro·spec·tives)
Definition:
arts exhibition of past works: an exhibition of the work of an artist or artistic movement that shows examples from all periods or styles a Degas retrospective