prospective

adjective

pro·​spec·​tive prə-ˈspek-tiv 

also ˈprä-ˌspek-, 

prō-ˈspek-, 

prä-ˈspek-

1

: relating to or effective in the future

2

a

: likely to come about : expected

the prospective benefits of this law

b

: likely to be or become

a prospective mother

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Ellison’s company has been WBD’s most aggressive prospective suitor, and Paramount’s latest bid to control the company was also its fourth. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025

The New York Giants fired Brian Daboll after a 2-8 start to his fourth season as the organization's head coach, opening an attractive coaching vacancy for prospective candidates. —Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

The diminished cost basis for the complex could enable KKR Real Estate to offer attractive rents to entice prospective tenants such as OpenAI and other companies. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025

One of Colorado’s largest landlords will soon be required to disclose the total price of its apartments to prospective tenants, ending its practice of not publicly listing additional fees in advertisements. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see prospect entry 1

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prospective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective

Kids 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

prospectively

-lē 

adverb

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