1. expected, anticipated; likely; coming in the future; possible, potential. prospective\pro*spec"tive\ , a. [l. prospectivus: cf. f. prospectif. see:
prospect, n.].
2. of or pertaining to a prospect; furnishing a prospect; perspective. [obs.] time's long and dark prospective glass.
3. looking forward in time; acting with foresight; -- opposed to retrospective. the french king of sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair. child.
4. being within view or consideration, as a future event or contingency; relating to the future: expected; as, a prospective benefit. points on which the promises, at the time of ordination, had no prospective bearing. jay.prospective \pro*spec"tive\ , n.
5. the scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect. h. wotton.
6. a perspective glass. [obs.] beau. & fl.prospective adj.
7. concerned with or related to the future; "prospective earnings"; "a prospective mother"; "the statute is solely prospective in operation" [ant: retrospective].
8. anticipated for the near future; "the prospective students"; "his prospective bride" [syn: prospective(a) ].
9. Of or pertaining to a prospect; furnishing a prospect; perspective.
10. Looking forward in time; acting with foresight; opposed to retrospective.
11. Being within view or consideration, as a future event or contingency; relating to the future: expected; as, a prospective benefit.
12. The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
13. A perspective glass. concerned with or related to the future; "prospective earnings"; "a prospective mother"; "the statute is solely prospective in operation".
14. 1. You use prospective to describe someone who wants to be the thing mentioned or who is likely to be the thing mentioned. The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers When his prospective employers learned that he smoked, they said they wouldn't hire him. = would-be.
15. You use prospective to describe something that is likely to happen soon. the terms of the prospective deal.