potency

[poht-n-see]

noun

plural

potencies 

1. the state or quality of being potent.

   Synonyms: potential, capacity, energy, force, strength

2. power; authority.

   the potency of God's word.

3. efficacy; effectiveness; strength.

4. capacity to be, become, or develop; potentiality.

5. a person or thing exerting power or influence.

6. Mathematics.,  cardinal number.

potency

/ ˈpəʊtənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being potent

2. latent or inherent capacity for growth or development

Other Word Forms

• overpotency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of potency¹

From the Latin word potentia, dating back to 1530–40. See potent ¹, -ency

Word History and Origins

Origin of potency¹

C16: from Latin potentia power, from posse to be able

Example Sentences

“Even from the first time we did a chemistry read on this, that potency was just there,” Buckley says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If they can achieve something similar away from home – a tough challenge, especially if the pitches follow recent Australian trends – they have enough potency in their bowling to be competitive throughout.

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But in a sign of the political potency of the Epstein issue, Greene pushed back.

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"Private clinics are prescribing high potency cannabis for people with psychiatric disorders such as depression and PTSD," Prof Sir Robin Murray, former president of European Psychiatric Association, told the BBC.

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England's defensive parsimony is allied with attacking potency - they have scored in 19 matches in a row for the first time in more than a century.

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Related Words

• capability 
• efficacy 
• efficiency 
• vigor 

When To Use

What does potency mean?

Potency means strength and effectiveness.It is most commonly used in the context of medications and drugs in reference to how strong or effective they are or are capable of being.It can also be used in a more general way to refer to the power or effectiveness of someone or something, such as a leader or a statement.Potency is the noun form of the adjective potent, which generally means powerful but is commonly applied to things that produce a powerful physical or chemical effect.Example: The medication will lose its potency if kept in the sunlight.