# potent

/ˈpoʊtənt/ (US) · /pˈəʊtənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/potent
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. strong or effective

adjective · CEFR B2

very strong and having a powerful effect on your body or mind.

For teachers: possessing great power, influence, or physical effect; often used to describe substances or persuasive forces.

- The doctor warned her that the new medicine was very potent and might cause sleepiness.
- The documentary provided a potent reminder of the environmental challenges facing the region, sparking immediate public debate and policy review.

### 2. chemically concentrated

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a very strong smell, taste, or chemical strength.

For teachers: chemically or biologically concentrated; producing a strong sensory or physiological reaction.

- The potent smell of onions filled the entire house while he was cooking.
- The laboratory analysis confirmed that the sample contained a potent neurotoxin, necessitating immediate containment protocols to protect the staff.

### 3. sexually capable

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

able to have sex or produce children.

For teachers: referring to a male's ability to achieve an erection or to procreate.

- The farmer checked if the bull was still potent enough to breed with the herd.
- Clinical studies focused on whether the treatment allowed patients to remain potent throughout the duration of the long-term therapy.

## Examples

- The medicine is very potent, so only take a small dose.
- The documentary was a potent reminder of how much the climate has changed in fifty years.
- The lawyer's closing statement was so potent that it shifted the jury's perspective despite the overwhelming physical evidence presented earlier in the week.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.