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
Following the events, a number of prospective buyers expressed strong interest in Chinese film distribution and actively engaged in discussions at the booth, resulting in multiple copyright deals and partnership intentions.
—Partner Content, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025
Picking up from here will be a huge challenge; without defining a canonical golden path, whatever comes next will be like creating parallel seasons of TV as prospective sequels.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
League commissioner Jessica Berman said earlier this year that after a series of formal expansion processes, run most recently by Inner Circle Sports, the NWSL was shifting to a rolling process, where teams, cities and prospective owners would be constantly evaluated for inclusion.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 Nov. 2025
So Stammen participated in Zoom calls with candidates three weeks ago as one of those interviewing prospective managers.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prospective
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Partner Content, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025
Picking up from here will be a huge challenge; without defining a canonical golden path, whatever comes next will be like creating parallel seasons of TV as prospective sequels.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
League commissioner Jessica Berman said earlier this year that after a series of formal expansion processes, run most recently by Inner Circle Sports, the NWSL was shifting to a rolling process, where teams, cities and prospective owners would be constantly evaluated for inclusion.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 Nov. 2025
So Stammen participated in Zoom calls with candidates three weeks ago as one of those interviewing prospective managers.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 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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