powerhouse
Americannoun
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Electricity. a generating station.
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a person, group, team, or the like, having great energy, strength, or potential for success.
noun
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an electrical generating station or plant
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informal a forceful or powerful person or thing
Usage
What does powerhouse mean? A powerhouse is a powerful, forceful, or dominant person, group, or thing. In a literal sense, a powerhouse is a station or plant that generates electricity. Although it can still be used this way, terms like power plant and power station are much more common. Powerhouse is far more commonly used in the figurative way, especially in context of sports and business. Example: Because they always win, they can always recruit the best players, which makes them a perennial powerhouse in the conference.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of powerhouse
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Paramount hires powerhouse attorney Jeffrey Kessler to defend against potential antitrust challenges.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
And that’s not counting on Canada, the other energy powerhouse next door and a close U.S. ally, Stuart added.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
Taiwan is a powerhouse in the manufacturing of semiconductors used to train and power artificial intelligence systems.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
They have been the unlikeliest powerhouse imaginable for nearly two decades, perennially reaching the playoffs despite microscopic payrolls that consistently rank among the lowest in the sport.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
The American gymnasts, famously nicknamed the Fierce Five, had just won artistic team gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, ahead of the gymnastics powerhouse nations of Russia, Romania, and China.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
