retroactivity
/ˌrɛtroʊækˈtɪvəti/
noun
- The principle or effect of a law, rule, or agreement applying to events that occurred before it was enacted or made.
- The contract's retroactivity meant that employees received back pay for the previous six months.
- Many legal experts argued against the retroactivity of the statute, saying it was unfair to punish past actions.
- The new tax law was given retroactivity, so people had to pay extra for last year's income.