potent

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈpoʊt(ə)nt/ UK /ˈpəʊt(ə)nt/ See IPA manual

Freq #14293

Meanings

1

adj
Having a strong and powerful effect.

The medicine is very potent, so take only a small dose.
2

adj
Having great power, influence, or force.

Fear can be a potent weapon in politics.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having a strong and... stiff strong

2 adj · having great power,... powerful strong

Opposites

counterpotentimpotent

Word family

Forms potently

Derived forms biopotentbipotentcounter-potentequipotentidempotentimmunopotentmonopotentmultipotentnilpotentnullipotentoligopotentomnipotent

Related forms potence potency potentatepotentepotential potentialitypotentiatepotenty

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

potent liquor
a distilled alcoholic drink with a strong intoxicating effect

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Potent entered English in the late Middle Ages. It comes from Latin potentia, “power,” which was formed from Latin posse, “to be able.”

Etymology

From Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”).

potent Middle English potens Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# potent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈpoʊt(ə)nt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpəʊt(ə)nt/
**Frequency rank:** 14293

## Meanings
1. Having a strong and powerful effect.
2. Having great power, influence, or force.

## Examples
- The medicine is very potent, so take only a small dose.
- Fear can be a potent weapon in politics.

## Antonyms
- counterpotent
- impotent

## Derived Forms
- biopotent
- bipotent
- counter-potent
- equipotent
- idempotent
- immunopotent
- monopotent
- multipotent
- nilpotent
- nullipotent
- oligopotent
- omnipotent

## Related Forms
- potence
- potency
- potentate
- potente
- potential
- potentiality
- potentiate
- potenty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: potent
- Root: potens

## Etymology
From Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”).

## AI Etymology
Potent comes from Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”). The historical chain includes potent (Middle English), potens (Latin). In present-day English it covers having a strong and powerful effect and having great power, influence, or force. The wider family includes derived forms such as biopotent, bipotent, counter-potent, equipotent, idempotent and related forms such as potence, potency, potentate, potente.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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