Derived terms

• power of attorney
• power of termination

Etymology

From Middle English poer, from Old French poer, from Medieval Latin *potere, for Latin posse (to be able).

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /pa()/, SAMPA: /paU@/
• (GenAm) IPA: /pa/, SAMPA: /paU@`/
• Audio (US) ^[?]
• Rhymes: -ar
• Hyphenation: power

Noun

power (countable and uncountable; plural powers)

1. (countable) capability or influence.
2. (uncountable) physical force or strength.
   
   He needed a lot of power to hit the ball out of the stadium.
   
   
3. control, particularly legal or political (jurisdiction)
   
   2005, Columbia Law Review, April
   In the face of expanding federal power, California in particular struggled to maintain control over its Chinese population.

Usage notes

• Adjectives often used with "power": electric, nuclear, solar, optical, mechanical, political, absolute, corporate, institutional, military, economic, solar, magic, magical, huge, physical, mental, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, sexual, seductive, coercive, erotic, natural, cultural, positive, negative, etc.

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