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

Incidence of side effects associated with acetaminophen in people aged 65 years or more: a prospective cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Arthritis Care & Research. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

The prospective tie-up could create the world’s third-largest auto group by vehicle sales, with 8 million sales annually, according to Citi. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024

The alternative asset manager is working with a broker to reach out to prospective buyers, people with knowledge of the proceedings told the outlet. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2024

Above all, the objective would be to get both men secured in fresh arrangements before June 30, 2025 as past that date, prospective buyers have the upper hand in offering cut fees for players that would be free in under a year. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see prospect entry 1

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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