prospectus

American  

[pruh-spek-tuhs] / prəˈspɛk təs /

noun

• prospectuses
  plural

1. a document describing the major features of a proposed literary work, project, business venture, etc., in enough detail so that prospective investors, participants, or buyers may evaluate it.

   Don't buy the new stock offering until you read the prospectus carefully.

2. a brochure or other document describing the major features, attractions, or services of a place, institution, or business to prospective patrons, clients, owners, or members.

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prospectus British  

/ prəˈspɛktəs /

noun

1. a formal statement giving details of a forthcoming event, such as the publication of a book or an issue of shares

2. a pamphlet or brochure giving details of courses, as at a college or school

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• prospectuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of prospectus

1770–80; < Latin prōspectus outlook, view, equivalent to prōspec-, stem of prōspicere ( prō- pro- ¹ + -spicere, combining form of specere to look) + -tus suffix of v. action

Explanation

A prospectus is a written catalog or brochure that offers a plan, as of school courses to take or stocks to buy. The idea of a prospectus is to offer a variety of options and a plan of action. One goal of a prospectus is to present the positive features of something in order to attract a desired participant. When a new company wants to attract investors or a stock brokerage wants to attract new clients, each offers a prospectus specific to its goals. The word is from the Latin verb specere, "to look," which is combined with the prefix prō-, "forward" — giving us a verb meaning "to look forward" to something that is coming. The modern word appeared first in France in the 18th century.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prospectus prospectuses

Its prospectus calls the company a “health intelligence platform” built on more than 40 billion hours of biometric data tracked over time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The company has grown revenue rapidly while also recording widening losses, Reuters reported on Monday after viewing a copy of the company’s IPO prospectus.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

Anthropic reportedly warned of “existential risks to humanity” in its IPO prospectus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Anthropic shared in the prospectus that nearly a quarter of its revenue came from two customers last year, according to Reuters.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

My school'd boast about us in their prospectus but I'd never, ever, ever come back to muddy Worcestershire.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Analysts at investment banks connected to listing companies can now publish research alongside company prospectuses, shortening the IPO process by seven days, the Financial Conduct Authority said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Although investors can read the prospectuses for the risks associated with such short-term trading tools, Sotiroff suspects that many individual investors don’t fully understand the risks involved.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

StepStone’s fund prospectuses all say that its markups on discounted secondary investments will boost the funds’ net asset values, its profits, and the annual incentive fees it pays to its money managers.

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

Under the pending legislation, which essentially amounts to a single paragraph, the standardized table of fees in prospectuses would change.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025

You could pull these prospectuses, and just quickly check the pulse of what was happening in the subprime mortgage portion of the originate-and-sell industry.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• catalogue
• syllabus