prospective
Americanadjective
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of or in the future.
prospective earnings.
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potential, likely, or expected.
a prospective partner.
adjective
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looking towards the future
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(prenominal) anticipated or likely
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prospective
From the Late Latin word prōspectīvus, dating back to 1580–90. See prospectus, -ive
Explanation
If it's prospective, it hasn't happened yet. Prospective students are students who might attend a school in the future. If you visit any college campus, you’ll see prospective students checking out the library, the dorms, and athletic facilities. Prospective indicates that something is expected or likely to happen. If you’re contemplating your future, you might speak of your prospective career, your prospective spouse, or a prospective million-dollar offer to make a movie based on your fascinating life. However, avoid the common mistake of confusing prospective with perspective. Perspective, which can mean “a reasonable point of view,” is important when one wants to accurately assess prospective opportunities.
Vocabulary lists containing prospective
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Common Senses: Spec, Spect, Spic ("Look")
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Maloney was asked about the possibility of Celtic signing 18-year-old Chelsea forward Shim Mheuka on loan and said "it's pretty difficult to talk about" prospective signings and "nothing's confirmed with anyone".
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
A group of transgender service members and prospective recruits challenged the policy under the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
It’s best if parents have a discussion with the person they’re naming, so that everyone’s on the same page and the prospective guardians are willing and able to step up if the need arises.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
Shasta County officials told The Times that any prospective employee or consultant would have to go through the same hiring process as anyone else seeking employment with the county.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
“There were problems Interchronological Rescues never wanted to talk about, never wanted the prospective adoptive parents to know about.”
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
