competent
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competent
- /ˈkɒmpətənt/
Where it comes from
From Middle English competent, conpetent, from Old French competent (modern French compétent), from Latin competens, competentem, present participle of competō (“coincide, be equal to, be capable of”). Compare Dutch competent (“competent”), German kompetent (“competent”), Danish kompetent (“competent”).
adjective more competent · most competent
- Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications. He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
- Having jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question. For any disagreements arising from this contract, the competent court shall be the Springfield Circuit Court.
- Adequate for the purpose. For if they [birds] had been Viviparous, the burthen of their womb, if they had brought forth any competent number at a time, had been ſo big and heavy, that their wings would have failed them, and ſo every body would have had the wit to catch the Old one.
- Functionally in order; functioning adequately. a competent sphincter; a competent cervix; a competent immune system
- Permeable to foreign DNA.
- Resistant to deformation or flow.
Opposite: incompetent
noun competents
- A catechumen selected for baptism.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: capable, able, effective, qualified, adequate, efficient, workmanlike, competence, proficiency, proficient, skill, applicable, expertise, expert, suitable, well-qualified
adjective
Opposite: incompetent
Translations
Every language
adj skilled
| Español | competente |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 能幹 /能干 nénggàn, 得力 délì, 有能力的, 技艺娴熟的 |
| हिन्दी | दक्ष dakṣ, कुशल kuśal, निपुण nipuṇ, पारंगत pāraṅgat |
| Português | competente |
| Deutsch | kompetent |
| Русский | компете́нтный kompeténtnyj |
adj law: having jurisdiction or authority
| 中文 | 有法定权力的 |
|---|---|
| Português | competente |
| Français | compétent |
| Deutsch | zuständig |
| Русский | компете́нтный kompeténtnyj |
Talk about this word "competent." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/competent. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. competent. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/competent "competent." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/competent.Cite this
@misc{competent_2026,
title = {competent},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/competent},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
