/ prəˈspektɪv; NAmE / adjective [ usually before noun ]
1.
expected to do sth or to become sth
SYN potential :
a prospective buyer
2.
expected to happen soon
SYN forthcoming :
They are worried about prospective changes in the law.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense looking forward, having foresight ): from obsolete French prospectif , -ive or late Latin prospectivus , from Latin prospectus view, from prospicere look forward, from pro- forward + specere to look.