Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 24, 2026, is "puissant." Puissant is an adjective that means powerful. It is used to describe something possessing puissance, which is strength or power. The example provided illustrates its use in describing wielders of strong magic in a fantasy novel. Another example shows its application to describe passionate musical performances. Puissant shares a common Latin ancestor with words like "power" and "potent." All these words derive from the Latin verb "posse," meaning "to be able." "Potent" comes directly from a form of "posse." "Power" entered English through Anglo-French from an alteration of "posse." The Anglo-French adjective "pussant," meaning able or powerful, also stemmed from this root. English speakers borrowed "pussant" in the 15th century to create the word "puissant."