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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"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.
In China, Zhang can rely on loyal fans who see him as a symbol of the country's manufacturing prowess, drawn by his rags-to-riches background.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
His alleged negotiation prowess was actually nonexistent, as the multiple failures of his businesses should have made clear.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
For now, at least, many of Wall Street’s big banks are aligned with retail traders in their otherworldly optimism, in no small part because of Musk’s prowess for engineering and marketing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Burn's aerial prowess gave England a way to see out games, though Tuchel turned to that tactic too early when trying to see out a win against Argentina.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
So even was my brother, Boromir: a man of prowess, and for that he was accounted the best man in Gondor.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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.
