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
Like in Miami-Dade, there are more prospective buyers than available single-family homes, but more condos on the market than there are buyers.
—Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
The amount of information available to prospective patients has changed the way decisions are made.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Even the prospective sale itself caught some stakeholders by surprise.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Even before the ink had dried on the House settlement agreements, reports emerged of prospective claims buyers aggressively pitching class members with offers for pennies on the dollar and not disclosing the risks.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
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Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
The amount of information available to prospective patients has changed the way decisions are made.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Even the prospective sale itself caught some stakeholders by surprise.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Even before the ink had dried on the House settlement agreements, reports emerged of prospective claims buyers aggressively pitching class members with offers for pennies on the dollar and not disclosing the risks.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 June 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 20 Jun. 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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