prowess
Americannoun
-
exceptional valor, bravery, or ability, especially in combat or battle.
-
exceptional or superior ability, skill, or strength.
his prowess as a public speaker.
-
a valiant or daring deed.
noun
-
outstanding or superior skill or ability
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Olympics Vocabulary for Champions
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Flight of Icarus," Vocabulary from the myth
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
They demonstrated their hunting prowess which involves trapping animals in netting set up around the jungle.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
While Minaj has more studio albums, Cardi B is a prolific hitmaker known for her metrical prowess and a kind of braggadocio that’s hard to beat.
From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026
The electric automaker on Thursday unveiled its second-generation sports car with a flourish of engineering prowess.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Last year’s LP “Getting Killed” raised the stakes formidably, both for the band’s fame and their songwriting prowess.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Molly couldn’t care less about Jack’s prowess on the soccer field, but smart she respects.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
