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Prowess is a word with a lot to be proud of. Not only has it performed gallantly for the English language since the 13th century, but it has stayed relatively stalwart in hewing to its original meaning, which is quite a flex. When prowess first joined the ranks of the lexicon, it could be used to refer to bravery, skill, and valor—especially those virtues as encountered in military contexts—or to individual acts of derring-do. The latter was usually used in the plural, as when people waxed rhapsodic about the “prowesses” of knights or some such. Today’s “extraordinary ability” meaning, which developed in the 17th century, tends to stick to the singular form, as when it’s used to describe those with intellectual prowess, or to someone known for their prowess as a fundraiser.
Examples of prowess in a Sentence
Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
The company leaned into its background and prowess as a tech company.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
That blocking prowess is making its way further into native Android.
—Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 13 May 2025
So hopefully with films like this, maybe some people would start to use their writing prowess for film and see that there’s a pathway toward doing that.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prowess
Cite this Entry
“Prowess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prowess. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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prowess
noun
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