See also: fire-power

English edit

Etymology edit

fire +‎ power

Noun edit

firepower (countable and uncountable, plural firepowers)

  1. The capacity of a weapon to deliver fire onto a target.
  2. The ability to deliver fire.
  3. (figurative) The ability and resources to dominate.
    • 2009, James Scott Bell, No Legal Grounds, page 18:
      He'd have to be on every one of his toes, because Larry Cohen, the insurance company's lawyer, would protect the doctor with every bit of legal firepower at his disposal.
    • 2011 October 23, Phil McNulty, “Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City”, in BBC Sport[1]:
      United's stature is such that one result must not bring the immediate announcement of a shift in the balance of power in Manchester - but the swathes of empty seats around Old Trafford and the wave of attacks pouring towards David de Gea's goal in the second half emphasised that City quite simply have greater firepower and talent in their squad at present.
    • 2016 November 28, Mike Vorkunov, “Despite Flash of Rose’s Prime, Knicks Are Dazed by Westbrook and Thunder”, in The New York Times[2]:
      It was not as if the Knicks were short on firepower, at least. Derrick Rose scored a season-high 30 points. He played like the point guard the Knicks surely hoped they had acquired in June.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit