proficient

[pruh-fish-uhnt]

adjective

1. well-advanced or competent in any art, science, or subject; skilled.

   a proficient swimmer.

   Synonyms: accomplished, experienced, competent, adept, finished, able
   Antonyms: inept, unskilled

noun

1. an expert.

proficient

/ prəˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

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

noun

1. an archaic word for an expert

Other Word Forms

• proficiency noun
• proficiently adverb
• proficientness noun
• overproficient adjective
• underproficient adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of proficient¹

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”; do, efficient

Word History and Origins

Origin of proficient¹

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

Example Sentences

“She spent like two weeks teaching me how to snowboard, and I became proficient enough to become a guide… We started guiding each other, and then running.”

From Los Angeles Times

Bodhana's dad Siva said "nobody at all" in his family was proficient at chess before his daughter took up the game.

From BBC

Ben Nee-Nee and a determined Duncan Paia'aua were able to get two back for the hosts at Eden Park, but Scotland dominated all areas in a much more proficient and disciplined performance.

From BBC

Grier: I did an episode of a sitcom in which it was assumed, unbeknownst to me, that I was very proficient playing an upright bass.

From Los Angeles Times

But as audiences see in Episode 5, he’s also a capable fighter proficient in firearms and equipped with key survival skills.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accomplished 
• adept 
• apt 
• capable 
• competent 
• conversant 
• efficient 
• experienced 
• gifted 
• qualified 
• skillful 
• talented 
• trained www.thesaurus.com
• versed