prospective
pruh-SPEHK-tihv
Prospective (adj) means Likely to happen or become something in the future; potential. Example: “The estate agent showed the house to several prospective buyers.”
adj
1
Likely to happen or become something in the future; potential.
"Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted."
"The estate agent showed the house to several prospective buyers."
"She interviewed three prospective employees for the role."
"Prospective students are welcome to visit the campus on our open day."
How to use prospective
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLikely or expected to become something — a "prospective buyer" is someone who might buy.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prospective buyer
prospective employer
prospective student
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Word forms
- Plural
- prospectives
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The estate agent showed the house to several _____ buyers.
Etymology
From Late Latin prospectivus, related to prospect, meaning "looking forward."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for prospective
See all rhymes for prospective →Frequently asked questions
What does “prospective” mean?
The word “prospective” means likely to happen or become something in the future; potential. In plain terms, likely or expected to become something — a "prospective buyer" is someone who might buy.
How do you pronounce “prospective”?
“Prospective” is pronounced pruh-SPEHK-tihv (/pɹəˈspɛktɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “prospective” in a sentence?
Here is “prospective” used in a sentence: “The estate agent showed the house to several prospective buyers.”
What part of speech is “prospective”?
“Prospective” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prospective” come from?
The word “prospective” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin prospectivus, related to prospect, meaning "looking forward.".
Is “prospective” a common word?
“Prospective” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between "prospective" and "perspective"?
These are often confused but unrelated. "Prospective" is an adjective meaning likely to happen or become something in the future, as in a prospective buyer, while "perspective" is a noun meaning a point of view or the sense of depth in a picture.
What is the difference between "prospective" and "prospectus"?
"Prospective" is an adjective meaning potential or expected in the future. A "prospectus" is a noun for a printed document that describes something being offered, such as a school prospectus or a company's investment prospectus.
What is the difference between "prospective" and "potential"?
The two are close in meaning and often interchangeable. "Prospective" tends to stress an expected future role, as in a prospective student who is likely to enrol, while "potential" stresses possibility, as in a potential problem that may or may not arise.
What nouns commonly follow "prospective"?
Common pairings include "prospective buyer," "prospective client," "prospective student," and "prospective employer." In each case the word marks someone likely to take on that role in the future.
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