competent
Use Competent in a sentence
pɪ adjective
1.
having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose; properly qualified: He is perfectly competent to manage the bank branch.
2.
adequate but not exceptional.
3.
Law. (of a witness, a party to a contract, etc.) having legal competence.
4.
Geology. (of a bed or stratum) able to undergo folding without flowage or change in thickness.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin competent- (stem of competēns, present participle of competere to meet, agree). See compete, -ent
1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin competent- (stem of competēns, present participle of competere to meet, agree). See compete, -ent
Related forms
com·pe·tent·ly, adverb
non·com·pe·tent, adjective
non·com·pe·tent·ly, adverb
ul·tra·com·pe·tent, adjective
un·com·pe·tent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To competent
00:10
Competent
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
competent (ˈkɒmpɪtənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj (foll by to) | |
| 1. | having sufficient skill, knowledge, etc; capable |
| 2. | suitable or sufficient for the purpose: a competent answer |
| 3. | law (of a witness) having legal capacity; qualified to testify, etc |
| 4. | belonging as a right; appropriate |
| [C14: from Latin competēns, from competere to be competent; see | |
| 'competently | |
| —adv | |
| 'competentness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
competent
c.1400, from O.Fr. competent, from L. competentem (nom. competens), prp. of competere "coincide, agree" (see compete). Legal sense is late 15c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
competent com·pe·tent (kŏm'pĭ-tənt)
adj.
Properly or sufficiently qualified; capable.
Capable of performing an allotted or required function.
Legally qualified or fit to perform an act.
Able to distinguish right from wrong and to manage one's affairs.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Web browser is competent, but takes a while to render some pages.
As soon as you turn away from reality you become less competent.
The farmer who is inventive enough to build a mill is competent to see quickly the adaptability of certain parts to his ideas.
Why not put it the other way: a really competent government doesn't need to be authoritarian.
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