competence

[kom-pi-tuhns]

noun

1. the quality of being competent; adequacy; possession of required skill, knowledge, qualification, or capacity.

   He hired her because of her competence as an accountant.

2. an income sufficient to furnish the necessities and modest comforts of life.

3. sufficiency; a sufficient quantity.

4. Law.,  (of a witness, a party to a contract, etc.) legal capacity or qualification based on the meeting of certain minimum requirements of age, soundness of mind, citizenship, or the like.

5. Embryology.,  the sum total of possible developmental responses of any group of blastemic cells under varied external conditions.

6. Linguistics.,  the implicit, internalized knowledge of a language that a speaker possesses and that enables the speaker to produce and understand the language.

7. Immunology.,  immunocompetence.

8. Geology.,  the ability of a fluid medium, as a stream or the wind, to move and carry particulate matter, measured by the size or weight of the largest particle that can be transported.

competence

/ ˈkɒmpɪtəns /

noun

1. the condition of being capable; ability

2. a sufficient income to live on

3. the state of being legally competent or qualified

4. embryol the ability of embryonic tissues to react to external conditions in a way that influences subsequent development

5. linguistics (in transformational grammar) the form of the human language faculty, independent of its psychological embodiment in actual human beings Compare performance langue parole

competence

1. The ability of bacteria to be undergo genetic transformation.

2. The ability to respond immunologically to an antigen, as in an immune cell responding to a virus.

3. The ability to function normally because of structural integrity, as in a heart valve.

Word History and Origins

Origin of competence¹

First recorded in 1585–95; compet(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

The act states that presidents can only remove a Federal Reserve governor “for cause,” generally accepted to mean an extreme failure of competence.

From Salon

A bumbling Defense secretary who lacks the competence to organize a two-car military procession.

From Los Angeles Times

Mandatory "anti-racist and cultural competence training" will be delivered to all officers and staff.

From BBC

"If I'm bluntly honest it's a lot busier in south Wales and I feel within this role we need to practise our skillset to maintain competence," he said.

From BBC

"Despite strong performances by Pedro Pascal and others - and for all its 'breezy competence and flair' - this retro vision of the future from Marvel doesn't have enough suspense," she wrote.

From BBC

Related Words

• appropriateness www.thesaurus.com
• capability 
• capacity 
• competency 
• expertise 
• fitness 
• know-how 
• proficiency 
• qualification 
• savvy 
• skill 
• suitability