wattage

English

Etymology

From watt +‎ -age.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

wattage (countable and uncountable, plural wattages)

  1. An amount or power (especially electric), expressed in watts, kilowatts etc.
  2. The power requirement of some electric appliance.
  3. (by extension, informal) A person's energy or abilities.
    • 2022, Tina Brown, The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor—the Truth and the Turmoil‎[1], Crown, →ISBN:
      [Prince] Andrew, unfortunately, exhibited classic symptoms of what is scientifically recognised as the Dunning-Kruger effect, the cognitive bias in which people come to believe that they are smarter and more capable than they really are. The combination of minimal self-awareness and dim wattage leads sufferers of this condition to overestimate their own capabilities.
    • 2023 June 18, Peter Walker, Pippa Crerar, “Furious London Tories fear low-wattage mayor shortlist looks like surrender”, in The Guardian‎[2], →ISSN:
      Amid the surprise there is obvious, if unspoken, glee at the prospect of taking on one of three such politically low-wattage candidates, two of whom have no direct experience of frontline politics.
    • 2025 October 10, Ian Gittins, “Robbie Williams review – tiny Camden gig offers blinding star wattage – and a surprising new song about Morrissey”, in The Guardian‎[3], →ISSN:
      This clear-eyed look back at a highly confused time is captivating because [Robbie] Williams, all nods, winks and twitches, is a ferociously skilled entertainer. Closeup, his star wattage is blinding.

Translations

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