puissance

Puissance is a French noun that broadly denotes the capacity to act, strength, energy, or influence. It is used in everyday language to describe physical force, technical capability, or political and social clout. The term can refer to the power of a person, an organization, or a nation, as well as to the potential to produce a result.

Etymology traces Puissance back to Old French puiss(a)nce, from Latin potentia, from potens, meaning capable or powerful. The related adjective puissant shares the same root and appears in phrases such as "puissant homme" or "puissante économie."

In mathematics, puissance denotes the exponent in an expression. The phrase "à la puissance n" expresses the operation of raising a number to a given power, as in 2 à la puissance 3 equals 8. The term is used to name the exponent itself and the resulting value, for example "la puissance de deux à la troisième" or "deux puissance trois."

In physics and engineering, puissance translates to power—the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred. It is measured in watts (W). Common formulas include P = VI and P = I^2R, where P is power, V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance. In electrical engineering, distinctions are made between puissance active (P), puissance réactive (Q), and puissance apparente (S).

In social and political contexts, puissance describes the relative strength or influence of an actor, such as a nation or organization, e.g., "puissance économique" or "puissance militaire."

Culturally, the term appears in titles and brands, such as Puissance 4, the French name for the game Connect Four.