"Retroactive" means something that affects or applies to past events, even though it is introduced or enacted after those events have already happened. Full definition
As Dennis Crouch pointed out over at Patently - O, the release of an informally proposed amendment to the current patent reform bill that would set April 24 as a cutoff date for retroactive application of fee shifting provisions set off a surge of patent case filings just before the deadline. (lexmachina.com)
EMBL is forced to pay retroactive pay increases because the administrative tribunal of the Geneva - based International Labour Organization (ILO) recently ruled that the lab had violated its own staff guidelines by setting 1995 salaries too low (ScienceNOW, 3 November). (sciencemag.org)
A court order must be in effect for retroactive child support to be received. (floridafamilylawclinic.com)