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
Derived 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.
Large prospective clinical trials are still needed to determine whether the medications directly reduce cancer risk.
From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026
Some of the backlash came after AI-generated photos appeared on social media, imagining well-dressed affluent women as prospective customers for the service.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
A celebrity’s ties to a property would create instant buzz—and served as a sure-fire tactic for luring in a line of prospective buyers.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
High mortgage rates, job-market uncertainty and the rising cost of living have kept many prospective buyers on the sidelines.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
The identity of the prospective bride was no secret to the parents of our young men, and no family was willing to shoulder so blatant a risk.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
