Word
prospective
Phoneticsprospec·tive
US/pɹəˈspɛktɪv/
UK/pɹəspˈɛktɪv/
Definitions
01potential or future
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. likely to be or become something in the future.
adj. expected or likely to happen or become something; often used to describe people who are candidates for a role.
日本語:将来的※
Español:prospectivo
“The university held an open day for prospective students and their parents.”
“The real estate agent spent the afternoon showing the property to several prospective buyers who had expressed interest earlier that week.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Pitfall
He is a perspective student.
He is a prospective student.
Do not confuse 'prospective' (future) with 'perspective' (a point of view).
02looking forward in a study
C1 · Advanced Science Academic · Technical
adj. describing a study that follows people over time to see what happens to them.
adj. relating to a study design that starts with a group of participants and follows them into the future to observe outcomes.
“The doctors started a prospective study to see how diet affects health over ten years.”
“A prospective cohort study was initiated to monitor the long-term cardiovascular effects of the new medication across diverse demographics.”
Usage
Commonly used in medical and sociological research contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a potential candidate
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. a person who might join a group, start a job, or become a student.
n. a person who is a potential candidate, member, or customer.
“The coach is meeting with a few prospectives for the basketball team today.”
“After the presentation, the recruitment officer stayed behind to answer specific questions from the most promising prospectives.”
Teaching tip
While 'prospect' is the more common noun, 'prospective' is sometimes used as a noun in informal recruitment or admissions contexts.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “prospective” in context.
Adjective
01. prospective study
“Researchers conducted a prospective study to monitor the long-term health effects of the new medication.”
adj + noun
Confusables
Perspective is a mental viewpoint or physical angle, while prospective describes something expected to happen in the future.
RememberPerspective is how you see; prospective is what you'll be.
Real-World Examples
“Many view Farage, a right-wing populist who was a vocal campaigner for Brexit , as a prospective candidate for prime minister.” “Until the new UMCG research, however, randomized, prospective studies had not directly investigated and confirmed this effect.” Etymology
From Middle French prospectif, from Late Latin prospectivus. See more at English prospect.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/prospective
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0