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
Pre-registration for the 2026 Kansas City Signature Open has closed, but walk-up registration is still available for prospective players.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
Before the state’s highest criminal court, Broadnax has claimed prosecutors used race as a basis to strike prospective jurors, leaving him with a nearly all-white jury.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
But when looking at the prospective season as a whole, the studio ultimately felt the revival effort wasn’t working and ruled against a pilot reshoot and series order.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead of treating share changes as ex post explanations, the organization could evaluate prospective moves and understand which segments and behaviors would drive the biggest impact.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
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Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
Before the state’s highest criminal court, Broadnax has claimed prosecutors used race as a basis to strike prospective jurors, leaving him with a nearly all-white jury.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
But when looking at the prospective season as a whole, the studio ultimately felt the revival effort wasn’t working and ruled against a pilot reshoot and series order.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead of treating share changes as ex post explanations, the organization could evaluate prospective moves and understand which segments and behaviors would drive the biggest impact.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 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 22 Mar. 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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