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regressive JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/rɪˈɡrɛsɪv/ · re·gres·sive
adjective
  1. Tending to return, revert, or move backward rather than advance. The committee’s regressive policies rolled back several years of environmental progress.
  2. (of a tax) Having a rate that decreases as the amount taxed increases. Sales taxes are often considered regressive because low‑income shoppers pay a higher proportion of their income.
Did you know? The term “regressive tax” gained prominence in the early 20th century when economists debated the fairness of sales taxes versus income taxes.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 14, 2026