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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.
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Examples of prowess in a Sentence
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner and returning All Stars 7 queen The Vivienne, who won fan affection and RuPaul's admiration for her comedic prowess and stunning looks on the runway, has died at age 32.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2025
Then came the yacht’s renaissance by her father, who saw beauty and sailing prowess inside a rotting hull.
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2025
To some extent, that’s a justifiable reaction by defenses to Young’s prowess and the Hawks’ still-iffy perimeter shooting around him.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near prowess
Cite this Entry
“Prowess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prowess. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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prowess
noun
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