Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)

adjective

1. a potent fighting force.
   Synonyms: puissant, strong
   Antonyms: weak
2. Several potent arguments were in his favor.
3. producing powerful physical or chemical effects:
   a potent drug.
4. having or exercising great power or influence:
   a potent factor in the economy.
   Synonyms: influential
   Antonyms: ineffectual
5. (of a male) capable of sexual intercourse.

noun

1. a fur having a pattern of
   T
   -shaped forms, placed in alternate directions and having alternating tinctures, one metal and one color, so that all forms of one tincture face the same way and are between, above, and below forms of the other tincture facing the other way.
2. a
   T
   -shaped form used in potent or counterpotent.

adjective

1. (of a cross) having a crosspiece at the extremity of each arm:
   a cross potent.

/ ˈpəʊtənt /

adjective

1. heraldry
   (of a cross) having flat bars across the ends of the arms

/ ˈpəʊtənt /

adjective

1. possessing great strength; powerful
2. (of arguments, etc) persuasive or forceful
3. influential or authoritative
4. tending to produce violent physical or chemical effects
   a potent poison
5. (of a male) capable of having sexual intercourse

Discover More

Derived Forms

• ˈpotentness, noun
• ˈpotently, adverb

Discover More

Other Words From

• po·tent·ly adverb
• po·tent·ness noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of potent1

First recorded in

1490–1500;

from Latin potent- (stem of potēns ), present participle of posse “to be able, have power”; potent

Origin of potent2

First recorded in

1325–75; Middle English potente “crutch, staff, support,” from Middle French potente, potence “crutch, support,” ultimately from Medieval Latin potentia, Latin: power, potency;

potent 1( def )

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of potent1

C17: from obsolete potent a crutch, from Latin potentia power

Origin of potent2

C15: from Latin potēns able, from posse to be able

Discover More

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

Industrial plants, such as those that make cement or steel, emit copious amounts of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, but the exhaust is too hot for state-of-the-art carbon removal technology.

Krikorian, who declined to be interviewed for this story, offered the group a simple yet telling answer: The climate issue was a potent opportunity.

He is also likely to ease restrictions on the oil industry’s emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and to revoke Biden’s pause on increasing liquid petroleum gas exports.

Inquiry chairman Lord Brailsford described these arguments as “forceful and potent” and said they would be considered by the investigation he is leading.

Jones discussed how he refined the gifts that made Jackson such a potent performer.

Discover More

More About Potent

What does potent mean?

Potent means strong, powerful, and effective.

It’s commonly applied to things that produce a powerful physical or chemical effect, especially medications and drugs.

It can also be used in a more general way to describe the power or effectiveness of someone or something, such as a leader or a statement.

The noun form of potent is potency.

Example: The medicine is extremely potent, which means that it needs to be used very carefully according to the instructions.

Where does potent come from?

The first records of the word potent come from around the 1300s. It ultimately derives from the Latin potentia, meaning “power.” The word potential comes from the same root.

Potent is perhaps most commonly used in a medical context, in which it’s used to describe something that can have a strong effect on the body. A potent drug is one that will have a very strong effect. For example, some strains of cannabis are more potent than others. When a drug is said to become more or less potent under certain circumstances, this means it becomes stronger or weaker depending on those conditions. While the word is usually used in reference to a drug, it can also be used in reference to a disease. A disease can become more or less potent when it mutates, for example.

More generally, potent is used to describe someone or something strong or powerful. An argument is potent if it is forceful and persuasive. A leader can be described as potent if they wield power effectively. A pungent smell can be described as potent. A strong alcoholic drink might also be called potent, as in Wow, those were some potent potables, Alex!

Did you know ... ?

How is potent used in real life?

Potent can be used in many different contexts, but it’s most commonly used in relation to how powerful a drug is.

US health officials have issued a warning about marijuana’s effects on developing brains. They say a change in attitudes toward cannabis has created a false sense of security about the increasingly potent drug.

MORE on marijuana: https://t.co/SuxCyD048Ahttps://t.co/kCjeAXoNws

— AP West Region (@APWestRegion) August 29, 2019

A top doctor in Italy was slammed by the @WHO emergencies chief for suggesting the novel coronavirus may be becoming less potent; researchers cautioned that clinical results from Italy likely do not reflect any actual change in the virus. https://t.co/D4atQd4qvr

— Global Health NOW (@ghn_news) June 2, 2020

"The Most Potent Weapon in the Hands of the Oppressor is the Mind of the Oppressed" – Steve Biko
I am reminded of the truth of this statement whenever I encounter Kenyans willing to make all sorts of mental contortions to justify privileges a few enjoy at the expense of the many.

— gathara (@gathara) June 7, 2019

Try using potent!

Is potent used correctly in the following sentence?

The medication will become less potent if kept in the sunlight.