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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
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
The blockbuster move is a reflection of the business prowess of Robert and Michael Greenberg, the father-son duo who has taken the company from family start-up to global powerhouse during the past three decades.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
Lack of deep-ball prowess becoming evident Young’s Week 10 performance aside, the Panthers’ lack of vertical prowess is becoming apparent on a weekly basis.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
The new record underscores Hongqi’s rapidly advancing engineering prowess and its commitment to developing sustainable, long-range hybrid mobility for the global market.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2025.
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prowess
noun
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