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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
Dana Reboe, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Tilbury, the namesake beauty founder and entrepreneur, saw an alignment in the female prowess at the heart of both her brand and the DCC, which is led by Charlotte Jones, co-owner and chief brand officer of the Dallas Cowboys.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2025
There are skydiving displays, nighttime drone light shows, and even a fly-in competition that pits balloon pilots against each other to demonstrate their technical prowess.
—AFAR Media, 4 Aug. 2025
More Dustin Bradford/Getty Images For all their game-calling skills and defensive prowess, neither Martin Maldonado nor Elias Diaz is are talented major league hitter.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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prowess
noun
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