prospectus
noun
Did you know?
Prospectus Is a Word for the Forward-Thinking
Like prospect, prospectus looks forward. Thus, a prospectus originally outlined something that didn't yet exist, describing what it would become. This might even be a book; the great dictionary of Noah Webster, like that of Samuel Johnson, was first announced in the form of a prospectus, so that well-to-do people might actually subscribe to it—that is, pay for it in advance so that Webster would have money to live on while writing it. Soon, prospectus was being used to mean a description of a private school or college, intended to attract new students. Today the word very often means a description of a stock offering or mutual fund, whether new or not.
Examples of prospectus in a Sentence
Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Lionnet says the prospectus showed that while a Falcon 9 launch might cost a customer $60 to $70 million, for SpaceX the cost was only $15 to $20 million per launch.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
As of March, the prospectus said, SpaceX had completed 650 orbital space launches and its focus in driving launch costs down.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 June 2026
The tools only know about the company that filed the prospectus.
—Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospectus
Cite this Entry
“Prospectus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospectus. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prospectus
noun
Legal Definition
prospectus
noun
Note: Under the Securities Act of 1933, the prospectus is part of the registration statement that must be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission before a security may be offered or sold to the public. The Securities Act defines prospectus broadly as “any prospectus, notice, circular, advertisement, letter, or communication, written or by radio or television, which offers any security for sale or confirms the sale of any security.”
