prosperous

American  

[pros-per-uhs] / ˈprɒs pər əs /

adjective

1. having or characterized by financial success or good fortune; flourishing; successful.

   a prosperous business.

   Synonyms:

   thriving

2. well-to-do or well-off.

   a prosperous family.

   Synonyms:

   rich, wealthy

3. favorable or propitious.

   Synonyms:

   auspicious, lucky, fortunate

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prosperous British  

/ ˈprɒspərəs /

adjective

1. flourishing; prospering

2. rich; affluent; wealthy

3. favourable or promising

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Usage

What does prosperous mean? Prosperous means successful, especially in a financial or material way. It can be used to describe people, groups, or institutions like businesses. The word is typically used to describe people who have achieved success in terms of wealth, health, and happiness. But it can also be used broadly, much like the words successful, thriving, and flourishing. Prosperous is based on the verb prosper, which means to be successful. You can say that someone is prospering in the present, but the word is perhaps most commonly used in the context of what will happen in the future. The word prospering can be used as an adjective to mean the same thing as prosperous. The related noun prosperity refers to a state of success. Example: If we can continue to maintain this level of quality, our company will continue to be prosperous.

Other Word Forms

• nonprosperous adjective
• nonprosperously adverb
• nonprosperousness noun
• overprosperous adjective
• overprosperously adverb
• overprosperousness noun
• prosperously adverb
• prosperousness noun
• pseudoprosperous adjective
• pseudoprosperously adverb
• quasi-prosperous adjective
• quasi-prosperously adverb
• superprosperous adjective
• unprosperous adjective
• unprosperously adverb
• unprosperousness noun

Etymology

Origin of prosperous

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prosperus

Explanation

If you have a new car, a new high-paying job, and some flashy new shoes, then you could be described as prosperous, meaning you have material success that seems like it will continue to grow. The adjective prosperous often describes a person or a person’s future, but it can apply to anything that’s experiencing growth and success. Prosperous derives from the Latin word prosperus, meaning “doing well.” Great pronouns of this happy word include golden, well-heeled, flourishing, and thriving.

Example Sentences

Beijing moved Ma into regional politics in late 2013, naming him law-enforcement chief and deputy party secretary for the prosperous southeastern province of Guangdong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Venezuelans who were once among the most prosperous in the region now feel poorer than counterparts doing the same work elsewhere in Latin America.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

We can and should hope for a better outcome for Iranians than for Iraqis: freedom from an oppressive regime, minimal death and destruction, a smooth democratic transition, a functional democracy, a peaceful and prosperous society.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

Voters will head to the polls in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, a prosperous hub of Germany's flagship auto sector with a population of 11.2 million.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Philadelphia was a prosperous place of broad, paved streets, well-tended homes, and large brick buildings.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• affluent
• booming
• comfortable
• flourishing
• fortunate
• rich
• robust
• wealthy
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do