What does "horsepower" mean?
Power derived from the motion of a horse.
Horsepower
/ˈhɔɹsˌpaʊɚ/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Power derived from the motion of a horse.
- Grammar: horsepower is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: electric motor power, electric power, engine power, h.p..
- Useful contrasts: low power, weak engine.
- Usage evidence: My car is deficient in horsepower.
How to use "horsepower"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "horsepower" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "horsepower" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "horsepower" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "horsepower" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "horsepower" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "electric motor power" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "horsepower", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Power derived from the motion of a horse. literally, uncountable
"Shillibeer's bus came in 1829 drawn by three horses. Later two horses were found sufficient to pull these closed wagonettes, which eventually had outside seats, and later on the substitution of a motor for horsepower."
- 2 a unit of power equal to 746 watts wordnet
- 3 A nonmetric unit of power with various definitions, commonly the mechanical horsepower, approximately equal to 745.7 watts. countable, uncountable
"Equally I can stand in a station like Lucerne in Switzerland, and watch with ill-concealed admiration the majestic entry of one of the latest Gotthard "Ae 6/6" electrics, packing 6,000 horsepower within its 60 ft. of length and 121 tons of weight, with its sleek dark green sides and handsome stainless steel bands and front wings."
- 4 Metric horsepower, a metric unit approximately equal to 735.5 watts. countable, uncountable
- 5 Strength, performance capability, specs, or similar. figuratively, uncountable
"political horsepower"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
low powerweak engine
Example
"My car is deficient in horsepower."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "horsepower"?
Common synonyms include: electric motor power, electric power, engine power, h.p., hp, impulse.
How do you use "horsepower" in a sentence?
My car is deficient in horsepower.
How do you pronounce "horsepower"?
Pronounced /ˈhɔɹsˌpaʊɚ/.
Etymology
From horse + power: the unit was originally defined as the amount of power that a horse could provide. Both non-metric and metric units of power were derived from effectively identical measurements of the power a draught horse could sustain over several hours, with the difference in watts solely due to different rounding errors to express that power in round numbers in the original non-SI units (ft·lbf/min and kgf⋅m/s respectively).