prosperous

[ pros-per-uhs ]

adjective

1. having or characterized by financial success or good fortune; flourishing; successful:

   a prosperous business.

   Synonyms: thriving

2. well-to-do or well-off:

   a prosperous family.

   Synonyms: rich, wealthy

3. favorable or propitious.

   Synonyms: auspicious, lucky, fortunate

prosperous

/ ˈprɒspərəs /

adjective

1. flourishing; prospering
2. rich; affluent; wealthy
3. favourable or promising

Derived Forms

• ˈprosperously, adverb
• ˈprosperousness, noun

Other Words From

• prosper·ous·ly adverb
• prosper·ous·ness noun
• non·prosper·ous adjective
• non·prosper·ous·ly adverb
• non·prosper·ous·ness noun
• over·prosper·ous adjective
• over·prosper·ous·ly adverb
• over·prosper·ous·ness noun
• pseudo·prosper·ous adjective
• pseudo·prosper·ous·ly adverb
• quasi-prosper·ous adjective
• quasi-prosper·ous·ly adverb
• super·prosper·ous adjective
• un·prosper·ous adjective
• un·prosper·ous·ly adverb
• un·prosper·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosperous¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prosperus

Example Sentences

One of these supporters is Jorge Gonzalez, Sr, who moved his family to Arizona from Mexico 20 years ago in the hope of building a more prosperous future.

From BBC

“I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve,” he added.

From Los Angeles Times

He was a conscientious and much-liked history teacher in a secondary school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, in the prosperous western suburbs of Paris.

From BBC

Will it be the innovative, diverse, prosperous one we thought we knew, where facts are facts, expertise is valued and our neighbors keep their religious beliefs out of politics?

From Salon

“To be able to see how they live makes me realise China is prosperous and strong.”

From BBC

Related Words

• affluent
• booming
• comfortable
• flourishing
• fortunate
• rich
• robust
• wealthy
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do

More About Prosperous

What does prosperous mean?

Prosperous means successful, especially in a financial or material way.

It can be used to describe people, groups, or institutions like businesses.

The word is typically used to describe people who have achieved success in terms of wealth, health, and happiness. But it can also be used broadly, much like the words successful, thriving, and flourishing.

Prosperous is based on the verb prosper, which means to be successful. You can say that someone is prospering in the present, but the word is perhaps most commonly used in the context of what will happen in the future. The word prospering can be used as an adjective to mean the same thing as prosperous. The related noun prosperity refers to a state of success.

Example: If we can continue to maintain this level of quality, our company will continue to be prosperous.

Where does prosperous come from?

The first records of the word prosperous come from the 1400s. It comes from the Latin term prosperus. The verb prosper comes from the Latin verb prosperāre, meaning “to make happy.”

To say that someone is prosperous usually implies that they have achieved financial wealth, but it almost always implies that they have found happiness or contentment in their success. In other words, to be prosperous is usually to be successful in a healthy way—to thrive. The word is most often used in the context of a people’s careers and successful businesses.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to prosperous?

• prosperously (adverb)
• prosperousness (noun)
• prosper (verb)

What are some synonyms for prosperous?

• prospering
• successful
• thriving
• flourishing

What are some words that share a root or word element with prosperous? 

 

• prosperity

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing prosperous?

 

• success
• business
• career
• wealth
• health
• happiness

How is prosperous used in real life?

Prosperous is usually used in a positive way in the discussion of financial success. It’s somewhat formal compared to a synonym like successful.

DAA Robert Clay: Family planning is critical for #youth, for families to become prosperous #Ministers #ICFPLive

— USAID Global Health (@USAIDGH) November 12, 2013

75 years ago, we decided to work together for peace. While Europe has become safer & more prosperous, war & conflict continue to ravage families across the world. To them we owe a more united, stronger EU, able to speak out & act swiftly to foster peace around the world #PeaceDay

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 21, 2020

Creating new markets often requires significant investments to attract customers who are deemed too poor to consume, note @CarlManlan and @EfosaOjomo. But this is precisely how #Africa can start to become more prosperous. https://t.co/SUCKZW2hE0

— Project Syndicate (@ProSyn) September 16, 2020

 

 

Try using prosperous!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of prosperous?

A. flourishing
B. thriving
C. successful
D. withering