prosperous

adjective

pros·​per·​ous ˈprä-sp(ə-)rəs 

1

: auspicious, favorable

2

a

: marked by success or economic well-being

b

: enjoying vigorous and healthy growth : flourishing

prosperously adverb

prosperousness noun

Synonyms

• thriving
• prospering
• successful
• wealthy
• golden
• booming

Examples of prosperous in a Sentence

The company had a prosperous year.

He predicted a prosperous future.

Recent Examples on the Web

The lace in her dress symbolized both wealth and purity, an appealing combination for brides who hoped for prosperous unions. —Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

There will be less stability and fewer allies within the West, investments abroad will be less safe, and the entire West will be less prosperous. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said Tokyo and New Delhi are deepening their multi-layered cooperation as part of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, referring to bilateral ties that seek a free, open, peaceful, prosperous and coercion-free Indo-Pacific. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

Trump, the dealmaker, surely understands that his friendships abroad are only as good as their ability to advance America’s goals of a peaceful and prosperous international order. —Barry Strauss, Time, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin prosperus "agreeable to one's wishes, successful, (of omens) propitious" (going back to *pro-sparo-, from pro- pro- entry 2 + *sparo-, going back to Indo-European *sph₁-ró- "thriving") + -ous -ous — more at speed entry 1

Note: An apparently traditional explanation is recorded by the fourth/fifth century grammarian Nonius Marcellus, namely, that prosperus was in origin from the phrase prō spērē "in conformity with one's hope" (spērē being taken as a variant of spē, ablative of spēs "hope"), though this may best be regarded as a folk etymology. It fails to account for the short e in prosperus.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prosperous

adjective

pros·​per·​ous ˈpräs-p(ə-)rəs 

1

: having or showing success or financial good fortune

2

: strong and healthy in growth

prosperously adverb