horsepower

noun

horse·​pow·​er ˈhȯrs-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

1

: the power that a horse exerts in pulling

2

: a unit of power equal in the U.S. to 746 watts and nearly equivalent to the English gravitational unit of the same name that equals 550 foot-pounds of work per second

3

: effective power

intellectual horsepower

computing horsepower

Synonyms

• power
• energy
• strength
• muscle

Examples of horsepower in a Sentence

an engine with 200 horsepower

that architectural firm probably doesn't have the creative horsepower to produce a truly innovative design

Recent Examples on the Web

The throaty Hellcat engine produced 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque in the 2024 TRX model and was generally hailed as a monster machine. —Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Its motor produces 8 kW (11 hp) continuously and can hit 15.8 kW in short bursts – around 21 horsepower overall. —Utkarsh Sood june 29, New Atlas, 29 June 2025

Roma and his team were tasked with creating an ultra-luxe sedan that was technologically advanced and delivered the performance expected of a vehicle with a six-figure price tag (655 horsepower and 646 lb.-ft. —Morgan Korn, ABC News, 29 June 2025

Powered by the ever-popular Honda i-VTEC engine, which produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, the 9-speed automatic transmission was quiet and had no issues getting up and going. —Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing horsepower

• shaft horsepower

Rhymes for horsepower

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

Kids Definition

horsepower

noun

horse·​pow·​er ˈhȯr-ˌspau̇(-ə)r 

: a unit of power equal in the U.S. to 746 watts and nearly equal to the English unit of the same name that equals 550 foot-pounds of work per second