Etymology From Middle French prospectif, from Late Latin prospectivus. See more at English prospect.
1
Likely or expected to happen or become.
Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted.
2
Anticipated in the near or far future.
A short distance above I-ch’ang is the prospective site of a hydroelectric dam that has vast promise for the industrialization of central China.1968, Herold Jacob Wiens, “I-CH’ANG”, in Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 11, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 1054, column 1:
3
Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
And in times long and dark Proſpective Glaſs / Fore-ſaw what future dayes ſhould bring to paſs,1626 (date written), John Milton, “At a Vacation Exercise in the Colledge, […]”, in Poems, &c. upon Several Occasions, London: […] Tho[mas] Dring […], published 1673, →OCLC, page 67:
4
Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.
1668-1690, Josiah Child, A new discourse of trade The French king, and the king of Sweden are […] circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.
5
Medicine, SciencesOf research Being a study that starts with the present situation and follows participants into the future
6
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Indicating grammatically an activity about to begin.
What some other languages convey with prospective aspect, English conveys with expressions like going to drive the car home.
Etymology From Middle French prospectif, from Late Latin prospectivus. See more at English prospect.
1
Obsolete The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
the whole Scene of affairs was changed from Spain to France there now lay the prospective1642, Henry Wotton, A Short View of the Life and Death of George Villiers:
[T]hey [two pavillions] were trimmed on the inside with rich armour and military furniture, hanged up as upon the walls; and behind the tents there were represented, in prospective, the tops of divers other tents, as if it had been a camp.1613 March 2 (first performance), Francis Beaumont, “The Masque of the Inner-Temple and Gray’s Inn, Gray’s Inn and the Inner-Temple; […]”, in The Dramatic Works of Ben Jonson, and Beaumont and Fletcher: […], volume IV, London: […] John Stockdale, […], published 1811, →OCLC, page 573, column 2:
3
Informal, Often A prospective (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.
Would you like to show the prospective around?
I'm meeting the prospectives at 3.
1 more example
At the moment, meeting interesting, 'could be, maybe not' prospectives around the globe keeps her entertained.2006, Verve: The Spirit of Today's Woman, volume 14, numbers 4-6, page 114: