stopping power

noun

The ability of a weapon (typically a firearm or other ranged weapon) to rapidly incapacitate or immobilize a target.

“The Victoria's Secret ad's racy image generated strong stopping power ratings.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounstopping power (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe ability of a weapon (typically a firearm or other ranged weapon) to rapidly incapacitate or immobilize a target.

    Troops in the Philippines preferred the .45 over the .38 because of its greater stopping power against charging tribesmen.

  2. uncountableadvertisingA research measure that captures a print advertisement's ability to grab the attention of the reader; also known as the attention rating.

    The Victoria's Secret ad's racy image generated strong stopping power ratings.

  3. particleuncountablenatural sciencesThe retarding force exerted on a high-energy particle by interactions with the medium through which it passes.
Cite this entry
APA

stopping power. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stopping%20power

MLA

“stopping power.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stopping%20power. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stopping power,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stopping%20power.

Source: stopping power on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.