prosperity

American  

[pro-sper-i-tee] / prɒˈspɛr ɪ ti /

noun

• prosperities
  plural

1. a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects; good fortune.

2. prosperities, prosperous circumstances, characterized by financial success or good fortune.

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prosperity British  

/ prɒˈspɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition of prospering; success or wealth

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Usage

What does prosperity mean? Prosperity is success or the state of success, especially financial or material success. Prosperity often implies success in terms of wealth, health, and happiness. But it can also be used more broadly. The verb prosper means to achieve prosperity. Someone who achieves prosperity can be described as prosperous. The word prosperity is often paired with words like peace and wealth, such as when wishing people well, as in May your year be full of peace and prosperity. Example: You can achieve prosperity through dedication and hard work.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonprosperity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• prosperities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of prosperity

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English prosperite, from Old French, from Latin prosperitās; see prosperous, -ity

Explanation

Use prosperity to refer to the state of being successful. In the US, the decades following World War II were characterized by rising prosperity, with large numbers moving into the middle class. Prosperity usually means the type of success that comes from having a lot of money. Our modern English word derives from Middle English prosperite, borrowed through Old French from Latin prosperus "favorable." The Latin word also means "fortunate," and the word prosperity does have an element of good luck.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prosperity prosperities

"At a time when the US-Japan Alliance is dedicated to cultivating prosperity across the Indo-Pacific, we strongly oppose any action that undermines its peace and stability," Glass added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

Zuckerberg compared AI to previous technological advances and noted that each time humanity has come out of such a transformation, changes have led to more people sharing greater prosperity, health, and freedom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

It challenges the idea that prosperity requires us to concentrate decision-making powers in the hands of the few.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026

But each time humanity has come out with more people sharing greater prosperity, health and freedom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The prosperity this engendered was one of the cushions on which the Enlightenment floated.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Studying the composition and other prosperities the inner three planets could also improve understanding how unusual ultra-low density super puff planets formed, the researchers said.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2024

Drawing on the inheritance of an almost folkloric wisdom, Garcia is unafraid of suggesting that passion is "a frail interlude between the prosperities of loss."

From Time Magazine Archive

But you were the favourites of Heaven originally, and your manifold and unfair prosperities convince me that you have crowded back into that snug place again.

From The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories by Mark Twain

But a sincere piety, which sympathises with all the adversities and prosperities of the Christian cause, and knows the general and especially the personal consequences of such deplorable inconsistencies, will commiserate, and weep, and pray.

From Female Scripture Biographies, Volume II by Francis Augustus Cox

Only, the prosperities may differ in their type.

From The Will to Believe : and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy by William James

Related Words

• accomplishment
• benefit
• boom
• expansion
• growth
• inflation
• interest
• riches
• success
• wealth
• welfare
• well-being