proficient

[ pruh-fish-uhnt ]
See synonyms for: proficientproficients on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. well-advanced or competent in any art, science, or subject; skilled: a proficient swimmer.

noun
  1. an expert.

Origin of proficient

1
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin prōficient-, stem of prōficiēns, present participle of prōficere “to advance, make progress,” equivalent to prō- pro-1 + -ficere, combining form of facere “to make, do”; cf. do, efficient

Other words for proficient

Opposites for proficient

Other words from proficient

  • pro·fi·cient·ly, adverb
  • pro·fi·cient·ness, noun
  • o·ver·pro·fi·cient, adjective
  • un·der·pro·fi·cient, adjective

Words Nearby proficient

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use proficient in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for proficient

proficient

/ (prəˈfɪʃənt) /


adjective
  1. having great facility (in an art, occupation, etc); skilled

noun
  1. an archaic word for an expert

Origin of proficient

1
C16: from Latin prōficere to make progress, from pro- 1 + facere to make

Derived forms of proficient

  • proficiency, noun
  • proficiently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012