Final answer:
The term for orbiting in the opposite direction to most planets is 'retrograde rotation.' This phenomenon can be observed in the slow backward rotation of Venus and also in the apparent westward motion of planets when Earth overtakes them in its faster orbit around the Sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that means to orbit in the opposite direction to the planets is retrograde rotation. Celestial bodies like planets and moons usually revolve in a direct, or prograde, motion which is eastward. However, when an object moves in the opposite direction, it is said to have a retrograde motion. This is evident in the rotation of certain planets such as Venus, which rotates backwards very slowly, indicating a retrograde direction.
Furthermore, retrograde motion can also refer to the apparent backward movement of a planet across the sky as observed from Earth. This happens when Earth, which orbits closer to the Sun and therefore moves faster, overtakes another planet. As it does, the other planet appears to move westward temporarily, even though both Earth and the other planet are moving eastward around the Sun.