Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "ƙarfafa" shine ƙarfafawa ko tallafawa wani abu, sau da yawa tare da ƙarin kayan aiki, ma'aikata, ko kayan aiki. Hakanan yana iya komawa ga tsarin samar da wani abu mai ƙarfi ko mafi ƙarfi, yawanci ta hanyar amfani da dabarun ƙarfafawa ko kayan. Ana iya amfani da kalmar “ƙarfafa” ta hanyoyi daban-daban, kamar aikin gini ko aikin injiniya, inda ake ƙara kayan aiki don haɓaka ƙarfin tsari, ko kuma a cikin ilimin halin ɗan adam, inda ake amfani da ƙarfafawa don ƙarfafa halaye masu kyau.