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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
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
The 2018 really stood out for us for its ability to show Rob’s prowess as a rockstar winemaker.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024
Financially, his inside-the-ropes prowess nearly matched what Juan Soto will pull in per year, raking in $29.2 million in purse money over the season and adding $25 million for winning the FedEx Cup.
—Mike Dojc, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
And unlike games like Arkham City (2011) or Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018), which boil down their heroes’ prowess to a few simple button presses, The Great Circle spends a lot of time allowing players to go beat-by-beat through small mysteries at their own pace.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prowess 
Dictionary Entries Near prowess
Cite this Entry
“Prowess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prowess. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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prowess
noun
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