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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
Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Not all fighting games necessarily need a massive, twisty plot, but in recent years series like Mortal Kombat and Tekken have stepped up to match their technical prowess with more complex storytelling.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025
Beyond changes in personnel, another force has worked to suppress the EU’s regulatory prowess: the imperative of competitiveness.
—Anu Bradford, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025
Preacher Boy seems to be loosely based on the legend of real-life blues musician Robert Johnson whose guitar was said to have been tuned by the devil at a crossroads, granting him musical prowess.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prowess
Cite this Entry
“Prowess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prowess. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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prowess
noun
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