prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv 
also ˈprä-ˌspek-,
prō-ˈspek-,
prä-ˈspek-
1
: relating to or effective in the future
prospectively
adverb
Examples of prospective in a Sentence
In 2005 [Jerry] Colangelo arranged face-to-face sit-downs with every prospective national team player, to hear in their own words why they wanted to represent their country.
—
Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated, 28 July 2008
All too often in the post-Vietnam past—the first Gulf War, for example—the default position of the Democratic Party has been to assume that any prospective use of U.S. military power would be immoral.
—Joe Klein, Time, 21 Aug. 2006
All of these arguments were prospective, all anticipated the role that public opinion would play in future constitutional disputes.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings … , 1996
Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated, 28 July 2008
All too often in the post-Vietnam past—the first Gulf War, for example—the default position of the Democratic Party has been to assume that any prospective use of U.S. military power would be immoral.
—Joe Klein, Time, 21 Aug. 2006
All of these arguments were prospective, all anticipated the role that public opinion would play in future constitutional disputes.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings … , 1996
Recent Examples on the Web
Beyond clean counters and tidy shelves, daters are looking for signals that their prospective partners can maintain and manage a home.
—Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
As this was an observational study, the researchers noted that a prospective and randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm the findings.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
For the last 15 or so years, celebrities have been, in general, more trussed up, as red carpets have become a heightened economic prospective for stars and designers alike.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The Red Sox cycled through Blake Sabol and Ali Sanchez as their prospective third catcher, as well as veteran Yasmani Grandal, who was signed to a minor league contract only to simply quit in June, apparently with an eye on retirement.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prospective
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Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
As this was an observational study, the researchers noted that a prospective and randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm the findings.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
For the last 15 or so years, celebrities have been, in general, more trussed up, as red carpets have become a heightened economic prospective for stars and designers alike.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The Red Sox cycled through Blake Sabol and Ali Sanchez as their prospective third catcher, as well as veteran Yasmani Grandal, who was signed to a minor league contract only to simply quit in June, apparently with an eye on retirement.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prospective
Cite this Entry
“Prospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospective. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv
also ˈprä-ˌspek-,
prō-ˈspek-,
prä-ˈspek-
1
: likely to come about
prospective benefits
2
: likely to become
a prospective buyer
Medical Definition
prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv
: relating to or being a study (as of the incidence of disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and follows them into the future compare retrospective
Legal Definition
prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv, ˈprä-ˌspek-
1
: relating to or effective in the future
a statute's prospective effect
2
: likely to come about : expected to happen
prospective inability to perform the contract
3
: likely to be or become
a prospective buyer
prospectively
adverb
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