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
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The stage is set for unbelievable tension and suspense-building, and it's executed perfectly through Spielberg's directorial prowess with memorable scenes from raptors in the kitchen to a T-Rex in the toilet.
—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
1 July 2026
Known for his defensive prowess across the infield, Kuroda-Grauer also turned his first double play on Dodgers star Mookie Betts and made his first putout with one out in the first inning during his debut.
—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
Leveraging the country’s manufacturing prowess and electric vehicle supply chain, Chinese makers have been able to scale up production while driving prices down faster.
—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
30 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prowess
noun
