prowess
Americannoun
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exceptional valor, bravery, or ability, especially in combat or battle.
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exceptional or superior ability, skill, or strength.
his prowess as a public speaker.
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a valiant or daring deed.
noun
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outstanding or superior skill or ability
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bravery or fearlessness, esp in battle
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prowess
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French proesse, proece “goodness, bravery,” equivalent to prou prow 2 + -esse, from Latin -itia -ice
Explanation
Prowess means exceptional skill or ability. Your sailing prowess might save your life in a storm, while someone with less experience might make mistakes. An earlier meaning of this word is exceptional bravery in battle, or a specific act of bravery. Prowess is a Middle English word borrowed from the Old French proesse, "courage, brave deed," from prud, "good, capable, brave." The related English word proud originally had the now obsolete meaning of "brave."
Vocabulary lists containing prowess
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Olympics Vocabulary for Champions
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"The Flight of Icarus," Vocabulary from the myth
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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.
For decades, Volkswagen’s VOW3 -0.34%decrease; red down pointing triangle prowess in selling German-engineered cars around the world helped support a growing army of some of the auto industry’s best-paid workers back home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
So, as he closes out his career elsewhere, I will enjoy watching his superior playing prowess from afar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026
Leftover ingredients don’t have to rot in your fridge, they’re opportunities to get creative and expand your kitchen prowess.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
But Quantinuum is distinguished by its technical prowess, as Rosenblatt Securities analyst John McPeake noted.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
We boasted about our conquests, our athletic prowess, and how much money we were going to make once we had graduated.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
