From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpotentpo‧tent /ˈpəʊtənt $ ˈpoʊ-/ ●○○ adjective 1 EFFECT/INFLUENCEPOWERhaving a very powerful effect or influence on your body or mind SYN powerful potent drugs a potent symbol of oppression Advertising is a potent force in showing smoking as a socially acceptable habit. A good company pension scheme remains a potent weapon for attracting staff.2 EFFECTIVEpowerful and effective The treaty requires them to get rid of their most potent weapons.3 a man who is potent is able to have sex or able to make a woman pregnant OPP impotent —potently adverb
Examples from the Corpus
potent• What we found was sometimes tremendously potent and sometimes confounding.• Its human story is at least as potent as the visual energy that drives it.• The combination of early breakfast, exhaust fumes and nerves is a potent cocktail!• unusually potent drugs• His speech had a potent emotional impact.• The idea, which smacks of Milton, was potent in the age.• They have a genuine and potent social power.• The jumbo jet is after all one of the most potent symbols of this century.• Is he so bloody potent that he can thump you and make love to you and you let him do it?• potent weaponspotent weapon• Then she realised that her other hand held a much more potent weapon.• The Khans will tell you that many have now replaced the rifle with another potent weapon, the squash racquet.• But a good company pension scheme remains a potent weapon when it comes to attracting and keeping staff.Origin potent (1400-1500) Latin present participle of potere “to be powerful” 