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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
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
The Fox Valley has lost a war hero – not the kind who fought the enemy with military prowess but who waged her battles with a fierce faith in God and a heart that beat with joy and compassion.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Akbar expanded the boundaries of the empire through his military prowess and consolidated power through a centralized bureaucracy, reorganizing the empire into provinces (subas) and developing the mansabdari system, which tied rank, salary, and military obligation directly to imperial service.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
Of course Carter’s on-field prowess made the selection easy but more than that, the Eagles believed in the people inside their building.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prowess
Cite this Entry
“Prowess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prowess. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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prowess
noun
