01
rückwirkend
retroactive
Valid or effective for a period of time that has already passed.
example
Die Gehaltserhöhung wird rückwirkend zum ersten Januar gezahlt.
The salary increase will be paid retroactively from the first of January.
rückwirkend
retroactive
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of 'rück' (from zurück, back) and 'wirkend' (participle of wirken, to have an effect). So it literally means 'working backward' or 'having an effect on the past.'
EXAMPLE
Das neue Gesetz gilt rückwirkend ab dem 1. Juli.
The new law applies retroactively from July 1.
Sentence structure
'Rückwirkend' (retroactively) is usually used as an adverb and often appears with a time expression introduced by 'zum' or 'ab'. It can stand at the beginning of a sentence or within the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Rückwirkend zum Jahresbeginn werden die Beiträge erhöht.
Retroactively from the beginning of the year, the contributions will be increased.
Typical combinations
This word is often used in connection with laws, contracts, and finances. Typical verbs are 'gelten' (to apply/be valid), 'in Kraft treten' (to come into effect), or 'gezahlt werden' (to be paid).
EXAMPLE
Der Bonus wird allen Mitarbeitern rückwirkend ausgezahlt.
The bonus will be paid retroactively to all employees.
Register
'Rückwirkend' (retroactive/retroactively) belongs to formal language and is used especially in official, legal, and administrative language.
EXAMPLE
Die Steuererleichterung wurde rückwirkend beschlossen.
The tax relief was approved retroactively.
Compare with
rückwirkend vs nachträglich
belated / subsequent
'nachträglich' and 'rückwirkend' both refer to something connected with the past. 'nachträglich' means that something is done or added later. 'rückwirkend' means that a rule, decision, or change applies to an earlier period of time. The word often appears with contracts, laws, money, or official decisions. The words can be confused because a retroactive change is usually decided later. But not everything that is 'nachträglich' is 'rückwirkend': a subsequent correction happens later, while a retroactive correction has an effect on the past.
rückwirkend
Ab Januar gilt die Gehaltserhöhung rückwirkend, obwohl sie erst im März beschlossen wurde.
The salary increase applies retroactively from January, even though it was not decided until March.
nachträglich
Zur Vorbereitung auf den Kurs fügt die Lehrerin nachträglich eine Liste mit neuen Wörtern hinzu.
To prepare for the course, the teacher adds a list of new words afterward.
In real life
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