prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv 
also ˈprä-ˌspek-,
prō-ˈspek-,
prä-ˈspek-
1
: relating to or effective in the future
prospectively
adverb
Examples of prospective in a Sentence
In 2005 [Jerry] Colangelo arranged face-to-face sit-downs with every prospective national team player, to hear in their own words why they wanted to represent their country.
—
Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated, 28 July 2008
All too often in the post-Vietnam past—the first Gulf War, for example—the default position of the Democratic Party has been to assume that any prospective use of U.S. military power would be immoral.
—Joe Klein, Time, 21 Aug. 2006
All of these arguments were prospective, all anticipated the role that public opinion would play in future constitutional disputes.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings …, 1996
Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated, 28 July 2008
All too often in the post-Vietnam past—the first Gulf War, for example—the default position of the Democratic Party has been to assume that any prospective use of U.S. military power would be immoral.
—Joe Klein, Time, 21 Aug. 2006
All of these arguments were prospective, all anticipated the role that public opinion would play in future constitutional disputes.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings …, 1996
Recent Examples on the Web
Tesla’s results – which came in above expectations – indicate the company may be recovering after two straight years of annual sales drops and the removal EV tax credits in the US, which has lowered the incentive for prospective American buyers.
—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
The International Seabed Authority has issued 30 prospective mining contracts to 21 companies from 20 countries to explore the seabed for cobalt, manganese, and other critical minerals.
—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
At InnReg, every first conversation with a prospective compliance client includes a consultant who has worked in that prospect's regulatory environment.
—
Laiba Tariq,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
But for some of the prospective buyers gathered for the presentation in Courtroom 6-1, where Capone beat a perjury rap in 1930, the long history of the building provided the selling point.
—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
The International Seabed Authority has issued 30 prospective mining contracts to 21 companies from 20 countries to explore the seabed for cobalt, manganese, and other critical minerals.
—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
At InnReg, every first conversation with a prospective compliance client includes a consultant who has worked in that prospect's regulatory environment.
—
Laiba Tariq,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
But for some of the prospective buyers gathered for the presentation in Courtroom 6-1, where Capone beat a perjury rap in 1930, the long history of the building provided the selling point.
—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
Cite this Entry
“Prospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospective. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv
also ˈprä-ˌspek-,
prō-ˈspek-,
prä-ˈspek-
1
: likely to come about
prospective benefits
2
: likely to become
a prospective buyer
Medical Definition
prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv
: relating to or being a study (as of the incidence of disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and follows them into the future compare retrospective
Legal Definition
prospective
adjective
pro·spec·tive
prə-ˈspek-tiv, ˈprä-ˌspek-
1
: relating to or effective in the future
a statute's prospective effect
2
: likely to come about : expected to happen
prospective inability to perform the contract
3
: likely to be or become
a prospective buyer
prospectively
adverb
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