POW

What Does POW Mean in a Text?

POW means "Prisoner of War" and "Proof of Work." Here is more information about each of these definitions of POW.

Prisoner of War

POW is widely used as an abbreviation for the term "Prisoner of War." In this context, a POW is any person captured or interned by a belligerent power during war.

Proof of Work

In a cryptocurrency context, POW means "Proof of Work." It is a system by which cryptocurrency miners compete against each other to solve a complex problem. The first miners to solve the problem are rewarded with digital currency.

POW forms the basis of many cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. However, POW requires huge amounts of energy, prompting calls for a move away from POW in favor of Proof of Stake (POS), which produces lower energy emissions.

Image for POW

When I write POW, I mean this:

meaning of POW

"Prisoner of War"

Summary of Key Points for First Definition

"Prisoner of War" is the most common definition for POW on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
POW
Definition:Prisoner of War
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 2
2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:typical user

Adults and Teenagers

Summary of Key Points for Second Definition

"Proof of Work" is the most common definition for POW in a cryptocurrency context.
POW
Definition:Proof of Work
Type:Abbreviation
Guessability:guessability level 4

4: Difficult to guess

Typical Users:typical user

Specialists

Example of POW Used in a Text

POW
author logo

This page is maintained by the Cyber Definitions Editorial Team.

Help Us Improve Cyber Definitions

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
  • Do you know a slang term that we've missed?
Please tell us using this form.

Quiz

Try our fun quiz to test your knowledge of slang and texting abbreviations.
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

0
  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Cyber Guru (+)
Cyber Hero (+)
Cyber Captain (+)
Cyber Sergeant (+)
Cyber Recruit (+)