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
The Red Bulls, the seventh-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, look to convince prospective sponsors and season ticket holders that this season wasn’t a fluke.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 7 Dec. 2024
In an appearance on Fox Business on Tuesday, Greenblatt outlined the study that found Jewish American job candidates have almost a 25% more difficult chance of receiving positive first responses from prospective employers than Americans with Western European backgrounds.
—Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Meeting other prospective owners in the past had made him on edge and noticeably uncomfortable.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024
Landlords, utility providers, cell phone companies and prospective employers, for example, also generally run credit checks when vetting applications.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prospective 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 7 Dec. 2024
In an appearance on Fox Business on Tuesday, Greenblatt outlined the study that found Jewish American job candidates have almost a 25% more difficult chance of receiving positive first responses from prospective employers than Americans with Western European backgrounds.
—Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Meeting other prospective owners in the past had made him on edge and noticeably uncomfortable.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024
Landlords, utility providers, cell phone companies and prospective employers, for example, also generally run credit checks when vetting applications.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prospective
Dictionary Entries Near prospective
Cite this Entry
“Prospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospective. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share