prowess

noun

prow·​ess ˈprau̇-əs 

 also  ˈprō-

1

: distinguished bravery

especially : military valor and skill

2

: extraordinary ability

his prowess on the football field

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• bottle [British slang]
• bravery
• courage
• courageousness
• daring
• daringness
• dauntlessness
• doughtiness
• fearlessness
• gallantry
• greatheartedness
• guts
• gutsiness
• hardihood
• heart
• heroism
• intestinal fortitude
• intrepidity
• intrepidness
• moxie
• nerve
• pecker [chiefly British]
• stoutness
• valor
• virtue

Examples of prowess in a Sentence

He is known for his prowess on the football field.

their naval and military prowess

Recent Examples on the Web

As mentioned above, Doughty is still good for 50 points even well into his thirties, and a lot of that is via his prowess on the power play. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

While Chile’s extreme south draws visitors thanks to pristine parks like Torres del Paine and Bernardo O'Higgins, Puerto Varas serves as a shining example of central Chile’s prowess within the realm of tourism. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

That blend of accuracy and deep-ball prowess impressed rival squads. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2025

Pepi’s skill set is ideal for a first-man-off-the-bench archetype: a savvy poacher who can find space in the box no matter how congested, with impressive aerial prowess and sure-footedness when the ball touches ground. —Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prouesse, from Anglo-French pruesse, prowesse, from prou

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

prowess

noun

prow·​ess ˈprau̇-əs 

1

: great bravery especially in battle

2

: very great ability

athletic prowess