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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
Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025
Dance Mom is an excellent example of this designer’s prowess.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Lamborghini showed off its engineering prowess and its commitment to fossil fuel use with the debut of its Fenomeno at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering today.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Europe’s growing productivity gap with the U.S — which has widened since the pandemic — isn’t just a result of regulation, labor laws, or tech prowess.
—Taco Engelaar, Fortune, 11 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 2025.
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prowess
noun
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