potency

American  

[poht-n-see] / ˈpoʊt n si /

noun

• potencies
  plural

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 British  

/ ˈpəʊtənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being potent

2. latent or inherent capacity for growth or development

---

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overpotency
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• potencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of potency

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

Explanation

Use the noun potency when you're talking about the strength of something. You could refer to the potency of a drug or the potency of a political leader. Potency is an official measurement in pharmacology, or the science of prescribing drugs. It's also useful for describing a person's power or authority over others. The Latin root word is potentia, or "power," and its origin goes all the way back to the Sanskrit word for "master or husband," patih. The word potency has historically been associated with men, but it's fine to use it to describe a woman's power too.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

potency potencies

Barcola has become a main target for Liverpool as they look to add potency to their attack following the departures of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah in the past two summers.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

"Switching off NFIL3 could be a decisive step toward significantly improving the long-term potency of CAR T cells," explains Prof. Feucht.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 2, 2026

That surge in lethality underscores the potency of the high-tech but cheaply made drones.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026

And so I think his legal skills and experience give him some potency, that perhaps Pam Bondi lacked, in navigating the criminal justice system.

From Slate ● May 4, 2026

By the same token, the potency of a 2,000-mile north—south shift as a barrier also varies with local conditions.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

If superhero fare has made even cosmic catastrophe seem banal, and you want to reconnect to the small-scale vicious potencies of real life, watch this.

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2023

He'll say things like, "Is this your first foray?" and "There are different potencies of aroma."

From BusinessWeek ● Jun. 16, 2011

As digital video media become all the more universally ubiquitous, so it seems artists throughout the world are increasingly re-embracing the primal potencies of drawing with an almost perverse timeliness.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 22, 2011

Instead, we can remind ourselves of what it's for: enriching and amplifying our potencies.

From BBC ● May 7, 2010

But other potencies there are in Middle-earth, powers of night, and they are old and strong.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

Related Words

• capability
• efficacy
• efficiency
• vigor