prospective

adjective

pro·​spec·​tive prə-ˈspek-tiv 

also ˈprä-ˌspek-, 

prō-ˈspek-, 

prä-ˈspek-

1

: relating to or effective in the future

2

a

: likely to come about : expected

the prospective benefits of this law

b

: likely to be or become

a prospective mother

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Michigan has also become an increasingly attractive destination for prospective candidates. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

In the suit, WBD accuses Amazon of intentional interference with contractual relations; inducing breach of contract; intentional interference with prospective economic advantage; and unfair competition in violation of California law. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 July 2026

Greystar, a housing giant that owns or manages over 30 properties in the Sacramento area, systemically turned down prospective tenants who asked to pay with housing vouchers, according to a civil rights complaint. — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

The adults who care about students—parents, teachers, school administrators, prospective employers—should encourage them to speak up, to debate, and, yes, even to fail. — Annabelle Garland, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see prospect entry 1

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prospective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective

Kids 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

prospectively

-lē 

adverb

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