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

Example Sentences

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

If the prospective donor is a match, they are put on the veterans’ transplant donor program and undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation. —Ashley Carnahan, Fox News, 29 May 2023

For financial markets, what matters most isn’t the details of any prospective deal, but that a deal happens, taking a U.S. default off the table while also avoiding a sudden drop in government outlays for items such as Social Security payments that could damage the economy in its own right. —WSJ, 26 May 2023

The sharp drop in qualified educators has led the district of charter schools on Detroit's eastside to launch an ambitious new promise to prospective hires: Teachers deemed highly qualified will be paid $100,000, about $40,000 more than teachers are paid now on average at the K-8 school district. —Detroit Free Press, 25 May 2023

Shortly after, prospective pledges at other universities with large Greek life populations, including Auburn University and Clemson University, began capitalizing on the internet’s fascination with the Bama Rush process and documented their own rush experience as well. —Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 24 May 2023

Regardless, prospective buyers should note that there’s nothing particularly new about these chips. —Monica Chin, The Verge, 23 May 2023

And on that front, prospective Grenadier buyers can opt for pre-configured builds oriented toward either creature comforts or off-road acumen. —Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 18 May 2023

And to purchase one, prospective shoppers must first join a waitlist. —Alex Chun, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023

Once members, and prospective members, know about it. —Jenn Mcmillen, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

see prospect entry 1

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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