REGRESSIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does regressive mean? 

• REGRESSIVE (adjective)
  The adjective REGRESSIVE has 2 senses:

1. (of taxes) adjusted so that the rate decreases as the amount of income increases

2. opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state

  Familiarity information: REGRESSIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REGRESSIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of taxes) adjusted so that the rate decreases as the amount of income increases

Domain category:

revenue enhancement; tax; taxation (charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government)

Antonym:

progressive ((of taxes) adjusted so that the rate increases as the amount of income increases)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state

Similar:

atavistic; throwback (characteristic of an atavist)

retrograde; retrogressive (going from better to worse)

returning; reverting (tending to return to an earlier state)

unmodernised; unmodernized (not brought up to date)

Also:

backward (directed or facing toward the back or rear)

Antonym:

progressive (favoring or promoting progress)

Derivation:

regress (get worse or fall back to a previous condition)