potency

noun po·ten·cy \ ˈpō-tᵊn(t)-sē \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of potency

plural potencies

1 a : force, power

b : the quality or state of being potent

c : the ability or capacity to achieve or bring about a particular result

2 : potentiality 1

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Examples of potency in a Sentence

The drug can improve sexual potency.
vitamins of high potency that should be taken only in the proper dosage

Recent Examples of potency from the Web

Its hegemony may have disappeared, but its potency has not.

— rory smith, New York Times, "Paul Pogba and Manchester United Spoil City’s Championship Party," 7 Apr. 2018
But candidates on the receiving end of the Clinton attacks aren't dismissing their potential potency.

— NBC News, "2018 Campaign: Republicans are running against Hillary Clinton (Again.)," 1 Apr. 2018
All of the world’s five rhino species are under threat from poachers who sell their horns on black markets, often in countries where rhino horn is believed to increase male potency.

— Washington Post, "Indian wildlife sanctuary sees jump in one-horned rhinos," 20 Mar. 2018
All of the world's five rhino species are under constant threat from poachers who sell their horns on black markets, often in countries where rhino horn is believed to increase male potency.

— Fox News, "Indian wildlife sanctuary sees jump in one-horned rhinos," 20 Mar. 2018
The majority of their work is focused on increasing potency for recreational use—getting people high—but these companies are learning how to cultivate and engineer plants using increasingly sophisticated methods.

— josh dean, Bloomberg.com, "America Is Giving Away the $30 Billion Medical Marijuana Industry," 7 Mar. 2018
Similarly, casting your incantation at the intersection of day and night (dawn or dusk), as well as during seasonal equinoxes, can strengthen its potency.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "A Beginner's Guide to Casting Your Own Spells at Home," 26 Mar. 2018
Elevated by its potency and portability, formerly-niche cannabis oil was going wide.

— robbie gonzalez, WIRED, "Shatter, Batter, Wax: How Cannabis Extracts Come to Be," 22 Mar. 2018
General manager Ryan Pace signed receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel and tight end Trey Burton last Thursday to increase the potency of an offense that ranked last in total passing and 25th in yards per pass last season.

— rich campbell, chicagotribune.com, "'I can't wait:' Mitch Trubisky eager to learn Matt Nagy's 'tricky' offense," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'potency.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.