wattage
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Pronunciation
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Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
[edit]wattage (countable and uncountable, plural wattages)
- An amount or power (especially electric), expressed in watts, kilowatts etc.
- The power requirement of some electric appliance.
- (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.