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

Synonyms

• energy
• firepower
• force
• might
• muscle
• potence
• potency
• power
• puissance
• sinew
• strength
• vigor

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

Engine The 2025 Toyota Crown has two engine options: 2.5L Hybrid: 236 horsepower, AWD. —Josh Max, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

No rating for combined horsepower has been made public just yet. —New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2024

The former is offered with a turbocharged inline four-cylinder with 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. —James Raia, The Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2024

Its spiritual predecessor was the original BMW 2002, small and compact, but which always begged for more horsepower. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing horsepower

• shaft horsepower

Kids 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