potent

1
[ poht-nt ]
See synonyms for: potentpotents on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. powerful; mighty: a potent fighting force.

  2. cogent; persuasive: Several potent arguments were in his favor.

  1. producing powerful physical or chemical effects: a potent drug.

  2. having or exercising great power or influence: a potent factor in the economy.

  3. (of a male) capable of sexual intercourse.

Origin of potent

1
First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin potent- (stem of potēns ), present participle of posse “to be able, have power”; see also potent

synonym study For potent

1. See powerful.

Other words for potent

Opposites for potent

Other words from potent

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

Words Nearby potent

Other definitions for potent (2 of 2)

potent2
[ poht-nt ]

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.

Origin of potent

2
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;see also potent1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use potent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for potent (1 of 2)

potent1

/ (ˈpəʊtənt) /


adjective
  1. possessing great strength; powerful

  2. (of arguments, etc) persuasive or forceful

  1. influential or authoritative

  2. tending to produce violent physical or chemical effects: a potent poison

  3. (of a male) capable of having sexual intercourse

Origin of potent

1
C15: from Latin potēns able, from posse to be able

Derived forms of potent

  • potently, adverb
  • potentness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for potent (2 of 2)

potent2

/ (ˈpəʊtənt) /


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

Origin of potent

2
C17: from obsolete potent a crutch, from Latin potentia power

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012