Did you know?
Prowess is a word with a lot to be proud of. Not only has it performed gallantly for the English language since the 13th century, but it has stayed relatively stalwart in hewing to its original meaning, which is quite a flex. When prowess first joined the ranks of the lexicon, it could be used to refer to bravery, skill, and valor—especially those virtues as encountered in military contexts—or to individual acts of derring-do. The latter was usually used in the plural, as when people waxed rhapsodic about the “prowesses” of knights or some such. Today’s “extraordinary ability” meaning, which developed in the 17th century, tends to stick to the singular form, as when it’s used to describe those with intellectual prowess, or to someone known for their prowess as a fundraiser.
Examples of prowess in a Sentence
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
The team of Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson were the favorites to at least get a bronze medal given Shiffrin’s prowess on the World Cup circuit and Johnson won a gold medal in downhill earlier in the Games.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Hacin brings architectural and interior design prowess together in one interdisciplinary firm, whose architects collaborate on homes, hotels, multifamily developments, offices, and restaurants.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
Stangel also praised Addison Seibert and sophomore guard/forward Sidney Hale for their defensive prowess.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prowess
Cite this Entry
“Prowess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prowess. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prowess
noun
