prosperous

adjective

pros·​per·​ous ˈprä-sp(ə-)rəs 

1

: auspicious, favorable

2

a

: marked by success or economic well-being

b

: enjoying vigorous and healthy growth : flourishing

prosperously adverb

prosperousness noun

Synonyms of prosperous

• thriving
• prospering
• successful
• wealthy
• golden
• booming

Examples of prosperous in a Sentence

The company had a prosperous year.

He predicted a prosperous future.

Recent Examples on the Web

The backstory Greenwich, for the unfamiliar, is a prosperous city ensconced in Connecticut’s little panhandle. —Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026

And the loss of our supply chain sovereignty was not a function of a prosperous and healthy system of global trade. —Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026

Ultimately, success means safer communities, stronger borders, protected elections, and a Texas that remains the most prosperous state in the nation. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

Even in the best of times, the film’s main characters weren’t prosperous. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin prosperus "agreeable to one's wishes, successful, (of omens) propitious" (going back to *pro-sparo-, from pro- pro- entry 2 + *sparo-, going back to Indo-European *sph₁-ró- "thriving") + -ous -ous — more at speed entry 1

Note: An apparently traditional explanation is recorded by the fourth/fifth century grammarian Nonius Marcellus, namely, that prosperus was in origin from the phrase prō spērē "in conformity with one's hope" (spērē being taken as a variant of spē, ablative of spēs "hope"), though this may best be regarded as a folk etymology. It fails to account for the short e in prosperus.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prosperous

adjective

pros·​per·​ous ˈpräs-p(ə-)rəs 

1

: having or showing success or financial good fortune

2

: strong and healthy in growth

prosperously adverb