prosperous
Americanadjective
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having or characterized by financial success or good fortune; flourishing; successful.
a prosperous business.
- Synonyms:
- thriving
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well-to-do or well-off.
a prosperous family.
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favorable or propitious.
- Synonyms:
- auspicious, lucky, fortunate
adjective
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flourishing; prospering
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rich; affluent; wealthy
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favourable or promising
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
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nonprosperousnessnoun
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overprosperousnessnoun
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prosperousnessnoun
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unprosperousnessnoun
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nonprosperousadjective
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overprosperousadjective
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pseudoprosperousadjective
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quasi-prosperousadjective
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superprosperousadjective
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unprosperousadjective
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nonprosperouslyadverb
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overprosperouslyadverb
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prosperouslyadverb
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pseudoprosperouslyadverb
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quasi-prosperouslyadverb
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unprosperouslyadverb
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.
Vocabulary lists containing prosperous
Life Is So Good
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A Wealth Of Words: Synonyms for "Rich"
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Hamilton
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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.
The yarn turns on the ambitions of Ichabod Crane, an awkward local schoolmaster, who pursues Katrina Van Tassel, the beautiful daughter of a prosperous farmer of Dutch descent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
I wish you a prosperous and resentment-free retirement as you navigate life as a single man.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
“We have the opportunity to build a new vision for our country, y’all. One where everyone can be healthy, prosperous and safe, and experience rest and joy.”
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
Lopez was at her apartment in the prosperous farmland known as the “Raisin Capital of the World” when a reporter told her about the investigation’s findings and the timeframe for penalties.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
They were the children of the prosperous storekeepers of the neighborhood.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
