Prospect
//ˈprɒspɛkt/ (UK), /ˈprɑːspɛkt/ (US)/
Prospect refers to the likelihood of future success, a potential customer, or the act of searching for valuable minerals, depending on context.
Examples
- She prospected new clients at the industry conference.
- Without investment, the prospect of recovery seems slim.
- They prospected for gold in the Yukon during the winter.
- They prospected for gold in the hills during the 1850s.
- Early settlers prospected along riverbeds using pans and shovels.
Meanings
Derived from the Latin verb prospicere, meaning 'to look forward', formed from pro- (forward) and specere (to look). Entered English in the 16th century via French prospect.
Examples
- The company has strong prospects for expansion in Asia.
- He is a promising prospect for the marketing manager position.
- Despite the challenges, the prospected growth next quarter remains positive.
- They prospected for gold in the hills during the 1850s.
- Without investment, the prospect of recovery seems slim.
A semantic contraction of 'prospective client' or 'prospective buyer'. The use of 'prospect' in this sense became widespread with the rise of modern sales techniques in the 1920s.
Examples
- The sales team contacted over 50 prospects this week.
- This startup is a high-value prospect for our software solution.
- She prospected new clients at the industry conference.
- The CRM system helps manage all active prospects.
- They converted three prospects into paying customers yesterday.
Formed by removing the agent suffix -or from 'prospector', which itself comes from the Latin root prospicere. First recorded in American English in the 1850s during the California Gold Rush.
Examples
- They prospected for gold in the Yukon during the winter.
- Early settlers prospected along riverbeds using pans and shovels.
- The team plans to prospect the northern region next spring.
- He spent years prospecting in remote deserts.
- Geologists will prospect the area for rare earth metals.