firepower

noun

fire·​pow·​er ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

1

a

: the capacity (as of a military unit) to deliver effective fire on a target

b

: effective fire

2

a

: effective power or force

intellectual firepower

b

: the scoring ability of a team or player

Synonyms of firepower

• power
• strength
• energy
• capability
• muscle
• capacity

Examples of firepower in a Sentence

The army didn't have the firepower to defeat the invaders.

right now the President doesn't have the political firepower to push his programs through Congress

Recent Examples on the Web

The loss wasn’t for a lack of firepower on the Giants’ end as Casey Schmitt, Eric Haase and Willy Adames all homered, the fifth time this year that San Francisco has hit three homers in a single game. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 May 2026

Russia has held a massive firepower advantage throughout the entire war, thanks in large part to its deep Soviet-era stocks of heavy artillery ammunition. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2026

The sea leg’s value lies not only in firepower but also in uncertainty. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026

On-pitch firepower comes from England internationals Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Leah Williamson. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for firepower

• candlepower
• cauliflower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• horsepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

firepower

noun

fire·​pow·​er -ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

: the ability to deliver gunfire or warheads on a target