horsepower
noun
horse·pow·er
ˈhȯrs-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 
1
: the power that a horse exerts in pulling
2
: a unit of power equal in the U.S. to 746 watts and nearly equivalent to the English gravitational unit of the same name that equals 550 foot-pounds of work per second
3
: effective power
intellectual horsepower
computing horsepower
Examples of horsepower in a Sentence
an engine with 200 horsepower
that architectural firm probably doesn't have the creative horsepower to produce a truly innovative design
Recent Examples on the Web
The engine produces a creamy 577 horsepower between 5500 and 6500 rpm.
—
Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
This means the car has had its horsepower reduced from 425 horsepower to approximately 300, and its weight increased to 1,350 kgs.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Sep. 2025
The two-door, three-person Can-Am Defender Limited and the four-door, six-person Defender Max Limited have 82-horsepower engines, power steering, tow hitches with a 2,500-pound towing capacity, winches, air conditioning and heating, a full hard roof and a three-position tilt-up glass windshield.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The car is powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine making 700 horsepower.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horsepower
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Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
This means the car has had its horsepower reduced from 425 horsepower to approximately 300, and its weight increased to 1,350 kgs.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Sep. 2025
The two-door, three-person Can-Am Defender Limited and the four-door, six-person Defender Max Limited have 82-horsepower engines, power steering, tow hitches with a 2,500-pound towing capacity, winches, air conditioning and heating, a full hard roof and a three-position tilt-up glass windshield.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The car is powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine making 700 horsepower.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horsepower
Cite this Entry
“Horsepower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horsepower. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
horsepower
noun
horse·pow·er
ˈhȯr-ˌspau̇(-ə)r
: a unit of power equal in the U.S. to 746 watts and nearly equal to the English unit of the same name that equals 550 foot-pounds of work per second
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