adjective

prosperous

PRAH-spuh-rus/ˈprɑːspərəs/

Successful and doing well financially.

The prosperous plant-shop owner smiles as a customer buys a plant.

A thriving modern plant-shop owner smiles as a customer purchases a healthy potted plant; abundant well-tended stock and several prepared purchases suggest a flourishing business.

Etymology

prosperousOld Frenchfavorable, fortunate

The inherited idea was being favorable or tending to bring success. English shifted from describing what promotes success to describing someone or something already flourishing, including being financially well-off.

In context

Story Trap15:14

I gazed upon my son, a successful individual who had dedicated his life to establishing a more prosperous existence, and I recognized the young boy who had once pledged to provide for me when he reached adulthood.

One Question Changed Everything, Betrayed by Her Own Son and Daughter in Law | Family Drama Story

More examples

Her small bakery grows into a prosperous business.
The town becomes more prosperous as local companies add jobs.
They come from a prosperous family but live modestly.

Forms

prosperous

prosper verb — To succeed and do well financially.

prosperity noun — The state of doing well financially.

Similar words

wealthy: Emphasizes having substantial money or assets rather than ongoing success.
thriving: Emphasizes active growth and success, not necessarily financial well-being.
affluent: Emphasizes abundant resources and a comfortable standard of living.