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
In 2015, prospective clients were skeptical that the model would work without a physical location or even a water cooler, according to Nick Yacenko, Bospar’s account supervisor.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
As the stories go, Stone House has attracted several prospective A-list buyers over the years, including Woody Allen and Richard Gere, though neither purchased the historic home.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
Initially, Jobs’ biological mother refused to sign the adoption papers because the prospective adoptive parents, Paul and Clara Jobs, did not have a college education.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 4 Nov. 2024
Being identified as the guy who uttered a homophobic slur at Kelce in hopes of provoking a reaction won’t produce a good search result when prospective employers Google him one day.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prospective 
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Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
As the stories go, Stone House has attracted several prospective A-list buyers over the years, including Woody Allen and Richard Gere, though neither purchased the historic home.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
Initially, Jobs’ biological mother refused to sign the adoption papers because the prospective adoptive parents, Paul and Clara Jobs, did not have a college education.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 4 Nov. 2024
Being identified as the guy who uttered a homophobic slur at Kelce in hopes of provoking a reaction won’t produce a good search result when prospective employers Google him one day.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prospective
Dictionary Entries Near prospective
Cite this Entry
“Prospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospective. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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