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
Buy Amazon for a prospective breakout to new 52-week highs.
—Carter Braxton Worth, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Some Moscow commentators said the attack was a warning to European leaders against proposals to deploy their troops to Ukraine as part of a prospective peace deal.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
More than 150,000 prospective freshmen and transfer students sought admission last year.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
The project sat in relative limbo until 2024 as prospective producers balked at the dark subject matter and nonlinear storytelling, deeming the movie unmarketable.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
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Carter Braxton Worth, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Some Moscow commentators said the attack was a warning to European leaders against proposals to deploy their troops to Ukraine as part of a prospective peace deal.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
More than 150,000 prospective freshmen and transfer students sought admission last year.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
The project sat in relative limbo until 2024 as prospective producers balked at the dark subject matter and nonlinear storytelling, deeming the movie unmarketable.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
Cite this Entry
“Prospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospective. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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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