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

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

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

Their nations have a shared interest in a "free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific", they said.

From Barron's • Jul. 11, 2026

As panic spreads among German manufacturers, layoffs are rolling through formerly prosperous towns and villages with no living memory of a downturn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 4, 2026

My hope for this country: I want everybody to be prosperous.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

King Charles told the audience: "People across Scotland look for leadership and for practical action to help build a fair and prosperous society."

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026

Albie Seedmore, the leggy son of a prosperous grocer, came over to their table.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

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