firepower

noun

fire·​pow·​er ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce firepower (audio)
1
a
: the capacity (as of a military unit) to deliver effective fire on a target
b
: effective fire
2
a
: effective power or force
intellectual firepower
b
: the scoring ability of a team or player

Examples of firepower in a Sentence

The army didn't have the firepower to defeat the invaders. right now the President doesn't have the political firepower to push his programs through Congress
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That difference in firepower may have been the biggest factor in this title race. James McNicholas, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 China could easily find and destroy big assets, and its much larger military force would overwhelm any of these systems that survive an initial attack, leaving Taiwan without offensive firepower or sufficient defenses. Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 Aside from big losses to Billerica and Arlington, No. 4 Tewksbury (15-4-1) showed the right firepower to potentially reach TD Garden for a third time in four years with nine shutout wins over its last 13 games. Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2025 The Premier League giants will be eager to prove that the tie is far from settled, especially with their attacking firepower led by Erling Haaland, who will not start today and only fit for a bench role, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firepower

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of firepower was in 1871

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Cite this Entry

“Firepower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firepower. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

firepower

noun
fire·​pow·​er -ˌpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce firepower (audio)
: the ability to deliver gunfire or warheads on a target
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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