Origin: Latin suffix -ive
Prospective has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
"As we climbed the hill, the prospective opened up to reveal a vast valley dotted with sheep."
In plain English: A prospective is someone who is expected to become a customer or client in the future.
"The sales team met with prospective to discuss new business opportunities."
Usage: Use "prospective" only as an adjective to describe something that may happen in the future, such as prospective buyers. Do not use it as a noun to mean a view or outlook, which is correctly spelled and used as the word "prospect."
of or concerned with or related to the future
"prospective earnings"
"a prospective mother"
"a prospective bride"
"the statute is solely prospective in operation"
Likely or expected to happen or become.
"The doctor warned that any prospective complications would likely require immediate surgery if they arose during the procedure."
In plain English: Prospective means something that is likely to happen in the future or expected to occur soon.
"The prospective buyer visited the house before making an offer."
Usage: Use prospective to describe someone who might do something in the future, such as a prospective buyer or employee. Do not use it to mean that an event has already occurred or is currently happening.
The word entered English via Middle French and Late Latin as prospectivus. It originally described something capable of being seen or viewed before it happened.