Word
potency
Phoneticspo·ten·cy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpoʊtənsi/
UK/pˈəʊtənsi/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the power or strength of something, like a medicine or a person's influence. It describes how effective or strong a thing is.
n. the inherent capacity or power to produce a desired effect; the strength or efficacy of a substance or argument.
Examples
“The medicine lost its potency after the expiration date.”
“Doctors were surprised by the potency of the new drug, as it required a much smaller dose than previous versions.”
“The political speech gained potency not from its volume, but from the speaker's ability to articulate the shared frustrations of the working class.”
Examples
simple
“The medicine lost its potency after the expiration date.”
contextual
“Doctors were surprised by the potency of the new drug, as it required a much smaller dose than previous versions.”
complex
“The political speech gained potency not from its volume, but from the speaker's ability to articulate the shared frustrations of the working class.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general quality of strength; countable when referring to specific levels or types of power.
Real-World Examples
“A homemade brew has no standard dose, and potency varies from cactus to cactus.” “The science has become more complicated, however, as cannabis use has become more widespread and the potency of cannabis products has increased in many parts of the world.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin potentia. Doublet of Potenza.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
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