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
Now, the justices have agreed to consider whether the Mississippi Supreme Court unreasonably determined Pitchford waived his right to challenge the race-neutral reasons prosecutors put forth for striking the four prospective jurors after his trial.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, while public charging availability has improved, the industry has relied on home charging as a selling point for prospective buyers, and not everyone has access to charging at-home.
—CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Demand for short-term rentals has already skyrocketed as prospective spectators take to travel sites and plan their World Cup experience.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
In a presentation last month to prospective charter schools reviewed by WLRN, staff of the Florida Charter Institute at Miami Dade College explained how the new system would work.
—Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prospective
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Ella Lee, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, while public charging availability has improved, the industry has relied on home charging as a selling point for prospective buyers, and not everyone has access to charging at-home.
—CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Demand for short-term rentals has already skyrocketed as prospective spectators take to travel sites and plan their World Cup experience.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
In a presentation last month to prospective charter schools reviewed by WLRN, staff of the Florida Charter Institute at Miami Dade College explained how the new system would work.
—Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 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 19 Dec. 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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