Prospect vs. Prospective — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 7, 2023
Prospect refers to someone or something that is considered a potential candidate or event that may occur, while prospective describes something that is likely to happen or someone who is expected to become a particular thing in the future.
Difference Between Prospect and Prospective
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Prospect refers to the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring or a person who is considered a potential candidate for a position or role. On the other hand, prospective is an adjective that describes something that is expected or anticipated to happen in the future. While prospect might refer to a promising athlete, prospective could describe the team they might join.
Prospect is also used to describe a potential opportunity or a scenario that could lead to a positive outcome, such as a business venture. Conversely, prospective is used to describe something that is anticipated, like a prospective business venture that has not yet started but is planned or intended.
In a sales context, a prospect is a potential customer who has been identified as fitting certain criteria, whereas prospective might describe the anticipated or intended sales territory for a company. A prospect could also mean a viewpoint or scene, whereas prospective never refers to a physical view.
Prospect can function as a noun or verb, indicating either the potential for something (when used as a noun) or the act of searching or exploring (when used as a verb), such as prospecting for gold. Prospective, however, is strictly an adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that it relates to the future.
Prospect is often used in a broader sense to indicate any future possibility or potential for success, improvement, or growth. In contrast, prospective is specifically used to describe something or someone as expected or intended to happen or be, often used in the context of future engagements, such as a prospective partner or job position.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun/Verb
Adjective
Usage
Refers to potential or likelihood
Describes anticipation or expectation
Contexts
Can indicate an opportunity, view, or candidate
Used to describe something that is anticipated
Function
Can be something looked forward to or sought after
Modifies nouns related to the future
Examples
A promising athlete, a business opportunity
A future event, an anticipated situation
Compare with Definitions
Prospect
A potential or likely candidate for something.
She is a good prospect for the scholarship.
Prospective
Referring to someone who expects to be a particular thing.
The prospective bride and groom visited several venues.
Prospect
A scenic view.
The mountain offers a breathtaking prospect of the valley.
Prospective
Expected or intending to be something in the future.
They met with their prospective clients.
Prospect
The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring
Some training which offered a prospect of continuous employment
There was no prospect of a reconciliation
Prospective
Looking forward in time.
Prospective students toured the campus during orientation week.
Prospect
A person regarded as likely to succeed or as a potential customer, client, etc.
Norwich's unbeaten heavyweight prospect
Clients deemed likely prospects for active party membership
Prospective
Expected or expecting to be the specified thing in the future
She showed a prospective buyer around the house
Prospect
An extensive view of landscape
A viewpoint commanding a magnificent prospect of the estuary
Prospective
Likely or expected to happen.
Prospect
Search for mineral deposits, especially by drilling and excavation
The company is also prospecting for gold
Prospective
Likely to become or be
Prospective clients.
Prospect
Something expected; a possibility.
Prospective
Likely or expected to happen or become.
Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted.
Prospect
Chances.
Prospective
Anticipated in the near or far future.
Prospect
Financial expectations, especially of success.
Prospective
Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
Prospect
A potential customer, client, or purchaser.
Prospective
Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.
Prospect
A candidate deemed likely to succeed.
Prospective
A study that starts with the present situation and follows participants into the future
Prospect
The direction in which an object, such as a building, faces; an outlook.
Prospective
(grammar) 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.
Prospect
Something presented to the eye; a scene
A pleasant prospect.
Prospective
(obsolete) The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
Prospect
The act of surveying or examining.
Prospective
(obsolete) A perspective glass.
Prospect
The location or probable location of a mineral deposit.
Prospective
A prospective (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.
Would you like to show the prospective around?
I'm meeting the prospectives at 3.
Prospect
An actual or probable mineral deposit.
Prospective
Of or pertaining to a prospect; furnishing a prospect; perspective.
Time's long and dark prospective glass.
Prospect
The mineral yield obtained by working an ore.
Prospective
Looking forward in time; acting with foresight; - opposed to retrospective.
The French king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.
Prospect
To search for or explore (a region) for mineral deposits or oil.
Prospective
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.
Prospect
To explore for mineral deposits or oil.
Prospective
The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
Prospect
The region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.
Prospective
A perspective glass.
Prospect
A picturesque or panoramic view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.
Prospective
Concerned with or related to the future;
Prospective earnings
A prospective mother
The statute is solely prospective in operation
Prospect
A position affording a fine view; a lookout.
Prospective
Anticipated for the near future;
The prospective students
His prospective bride
Prospect
Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.
Prospective
Potential, as in a future event or circumstance.
The prospective benefits of the investment are promising.
Prospect
The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation.
Prospective
Likely to happen at a future date.
The prospective merger is creating buzz in the industry.
Prospect
The potential things that may come to pass, often favorable.
Prospect
A hope; a hopeful.
Prospect
(sports) Any player whose rights are owned by a top-level professional team, but who has yet to play a game for said team.
Prospect
(sales) A potential client or customer.
Prospect
(music) The façade of an organ.
Prospect
(intransitive) To search, as for gold.
Prospect
To determine which minerals or metals are present in a location.
Prospect
That which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.
His eye discovers unawareThe goodly prospect of some foreign land.
Prospect
Especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.
I went to Putney . . . to take prospects in crayon.
Prospect
A position affording a fine view; a lookout.
Him God beholding from his prospect high.
Prospect
Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.
And their prospect was toward the south.
Prospect
The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state.
Is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to, or provision for, the remaining part of life ?
Prospect
That which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success.
These swell their prospectsd exalt their pride,When offers are disdain'd, and love deny'd.
Prospect
To look over; to explore or examine for something; as, to prospect a district for gold.
Prospect
To make a search; to seek; to explore, as for mines or the like; as, to prospect for gold.
Prospect
The possibility of future success;
His prospects as a writer are excellent
Prospect
Belief about (or mental picture of) the future
Prospect
Someone who is considered for something (for an office or prize or honor etc.)
Prospect
The visual percept of a region;
The most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views
Prospect
A prediction of the course of a disease
Prospect
Search for something desirable;
Prospect a job
Prospect
Explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals
Prospect
The possibility of future success.
The new business has excellent growth prospects.
Prospect
The act of searching for mineral deposits.
They went prospecting for gold in the river.
Prospect
A potential buyer or client.
We have several new prospects interested in our products.
Common Curiosities
Is "prospective" ever used as a noun?
No, "prospective" is only used as an adjective.
What does "prospect" mean?
"Prospect" refers to the possibility of something happening or someone's potential.
How is "prospective" used in a sentence?
"Prospective" is used as an adjective, such as "They were prospective buyers."
Can "prospect" be used as a verb?
Yes, "prospect" can be a verb meaning to search, typically for minerals.
What does "prospective" mean in real estate?
In real estate, "prospective" refers to potential buyers or tenants.
What is a "prospective" study?
A prospective study is research that follows participants forward in time.
What are "prospective" employees?
"Prospective" employees are individuals who are expected to become employees.
Can "prospects" be used to refer to people?
Yes, "prospects" can refer to potential candidates or clients.
Can "prospect" refer to a landscape?
Yes, "prospect" can refer to a view or scene.
Does "prospective" only relate to the future?
Yes, "prospective" always relates to the future or anticipation of something to come.
How do "prospect" and "prospective" differ in a job context?
"Prospect" could be a potential job candidate, while "prospective" describes an anticipated job position.
Can businesses have "prospects"?
Yes, businesses can refer to potential opportunities or clients as "prospects."
Are "prospect" and "prospective" interchangeable?
No, they are not interchangeable; "prospect" is a noun or verb, while "prospective" is an adjective.
What is a "prospect" in sales?
In sales, a "prospect" is a potential customer.
Can "prospect" be plural?
Yes, "prospects" can refer to multiple opportunities or potential candidates.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
