Meanings
plural potentialities
- countableAn instance of potential: any given possibility.
any and all potentialities
1 more example
We've been prepping for years, and we like to hope that we're ready for all potentialities — as ready as one can be.
- countableuncountableAn inherent capacity for growth or development.
- countableuncountableAn aptitude amenable to development; capability.
- countableuncountablehuman sciencesA possibility or capacity to be something, as opposed to an actuality describing what something actually is at present.
- countableuncountablenatural sciencesQuantum potential.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe quality of being or having potential.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe inherent capacity for coming into being
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*pótis
- Proto-Italic*potis
- Proto-Italic*potēō
- Proto-Italic*potēnts
- Latinpotēns
- Latinpotentia
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
- Late Latinpotentialis
- Englishpotential
- Englishpotentiality
Translations
Japanese 可能態
- 可能態 (kanoutai)in metaphysics: dynamis
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with potentiality
Cite this entry
potentiality. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/potentiality
“potentiality.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/potentiality. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “potentiality,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/potentiality.
Source: potentiality on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.