firepower

or fire pow·er

[ fahyuhr-pou-er ]

noun

1. the capability of a military force, unit, or weapons system as measured by the amount of gunfire, number of missiles, etc., deliverable to a target.
2. the capability or potential, as of an organization, for action or achieving results.

Word History and Origins

Origin of firepower¹

First recorded in 1910–15; fire + power

Example Sentences

Mutts countered with plenty offensive firepower in the first half, making 5 of 7 shots, including Virginia Tech’s final four points, to tie the score at 31 going into the break before the Hokies fizzled defensively.

From Washington Post

High-quality multimedia demands that your device processes data at high speeds, so more firepower means better audio while listening to music or watching movies.

From Popular-Science

Nash will compensate for Allen’s departure by turning more often to center DeAndre Jordan and small-ball lineups, and he will hope that Brooklyn has enough firepower to blow opponents off the court and cover up for defensive weaknesses.

From Washington Post

The Buckeyes might have to play more nickel24 than usual simply as a way to match all the firepower that Alabama has.

From FiveThirtyEight

If plenty are at the ready, then a mutation that reduces the overall general firepower will be less of an issue.

From Fortune

Faced with this opponent, the United States has a variety of military options for using its aerial and standoff firepower.

From The Daily Beast

After all, Iran, Assad, and Hezbollah have the motive and the firepower to fight ISIS.

From The Daily Beast

While the army has the firepower, it lacks local knowledge and the will to fight.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. will need more offensive firepower to make a deep run in the tourney.

From The Daily Beast

Insurgents in Ukraine send dozens of corpses back to Mother Russia in an attempt to win pity—and firepower—from the Kremlin.

From The Daily Beast

In spite of their losses, they still had enough firepower to cover the area surrounding the station.

From Project Gutenberg

With superior and rapid firepower, the blinded, deafened enemy would be destroyed and defeated as we saw fit.

From Project Gutenberg

Seven of the battle cruisers fired as one, and were joined by all the firepower of their escort ships.

From Project Gutenberg

They've got plenty of firepower, too; close to half the entire security force, I understand, including all the officers.

From Project Gutenberg

It's still almost five hours before the Camelot pulls in, and until she does you're way ahead on firepower.

From Project Gutenberg