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

Between the lines: Still, fusion may have an ally in prospective Energy Secretary Chris Wright. —Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025

Third, a key device for keeping and using power is to divide-and-conquer alliances among perceived, or prospective, adversaries. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Living in a community with an association requires abiding by the rules, obligations and restrictions found in its governing declaration, which is akin to a contract that is agreed upon by all prospective buyers prior to their becoming owners and members. —Christyne D. Santisteban, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025

Sharry Schmid, president of Edina Realty, explained that the Twin Cities real estate market, which encompasses 13 counties, has seen an inventory increase of 15 percent over the last year, which is good news for prospective buyers. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2025

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