prospective parents

Meaning

1. 1nounplural

   people who are planning or hoping to become parents in the future, especially through adoption or surrogacy.

   Grammar: Plural noun phrase; use a plural verb: prospective parents are required to attend. For one person, say 'a prospective parent'.

   Patterns

   • prospective parents for a child
   • prospective parents who want to adopt
   • support for prospective parents

   The agency provides counseling for prospective parents considering adoption.

   Prospective parents must complete a home study before they can adopt.

   The workshop is open to prospective parents and anyone interested in fostering.

Word forms

Common combinations

prospective adoptive parents

Prospective adoptive parents often wait a long time for a match.

help for prospective parents

The charity offers help for prospective parents navigating the adoption process.

prospective parents-to-be

The class is designed for prospective parents-to-be.

Synonyms and how they differ

future parents

Future parents is a more general and less formal way to say the same thing, but it is less common in official adoption contexts.

intended parents

Intended parents is a legal term used mainly in surrogacy agreements; it is more specific than prospective parents.

Word family

prospective adjective

expected or hoping to be something in the future.

parenthood noun

the state of being a parent.

Commonly confused: prospective parents or expectant parents?

Practice

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