Prowess is great skill or ability in a particular area, especially in battle, sports, or a demanding activity.
From Old French *proece* 'courage, bravery, excellence', from *prou* 'valiant, brave'. It originally focused on heroic bravery in war.
Prowess began as battlefield courage, not just talent. When we talk about 'technical prowess' today, we’re quietly comparing coders and athletes to medieval knights showing off in combat.
"Prowess"—especially in physical, intellectual, or sexual contexts—has often been associated with masculine ideals, with women’s comparable abilities downplayed or sexualized rather than respected. This has contributed to stereotypes about which genders can excel in certain domains.
Apply "prowess" evenly across genders and domains, recognizing skill and excellence without reinforcing gendered expectations about who is allowed to display it.
["skill","expertise","mastery","ability"]
When describing historical or contemporary prowess, include women and gender-diverse people whose abilities have been overlooked or framed as exceptional only because of biased norms.
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