Dictionary

competent en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈkɒmpətənt/

Etymology

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”).

Meanings

1. Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
   • I believe in that myself because it has been explained by competent men as the convolutions of the grey matter. 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:
   • The purpose of sharing these accounts – particularly during Women’s History Month – is to show that women, like men, can grow from bumbling neophytes to competent leaders. 2019 March 17, Swanee Hunt, “My career: From bumbling neophyte to pioneering diplomat”, in CNN, archived from the original on 16 May 2024:
   • That as a competent keyless citizen he had proceeded energetically from the unknown to the known through the incertitude of the void. 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:
   • He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
2. 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.
   • judicial authority having competent jurisdiction
3. 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. 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 67
4. (of an organ, qualifier:tissue; or system; tissue; or system) Functionally in order; functioning adequately.
   • a competent sphincter;   a competent cervix;   a competent immune system
5. (of a cell wall) Permeable to foreign DNA.
6. Resistant to deformation or flow.

Forms

Antonyms

incompetent (all senses)

Deriveds

dyscompetent · osmocompetent · immunocompetent · competently · angiocompetent · rhizocompetent · non-incompetent · electrocompetent · multicompetent · incompetent · ultracompetent · chemocompetent · thermocompetent · noncompetent · osteocompetent · precompetent · supercompetent · hypercompetent · fibrocompetent · melanocompetent · omnicompetent · neurocompetent · retrocompetent

Relateds

competence · competentness · competition · bicompetent · tricompetent · compete

Translations (61)

pt competente (skilled) · id kompeten (skilled) · hi दक्ष (skilled) · es competente (skilled) · pl kompetentny (skilled) · mk кадарен (adequate for a purpose) · oc competent (skilled) · bn ওয়াকেফ (skilled) · pt competente (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · hy իրավասու (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · nl bevoegd (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · eo kompetenta (skilled) · ca competent (skilled) · fi etevä (skilled) · hu kompetens (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · fa شایسته (skilled) · pl właściwy (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · hi कुशल (skilled) · bg компетентен (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · fi toimivaltainen (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · cmn 能幹 /能干 (skilled) · ca competent (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · ms cekap (skilled) · cs příslušný (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · ru компете́нтный (skilled) · hu kompetens (skilled) · hu jártas (skilled) · hu hozzáértő (skilled) · fi osaava (skilled) · mi kaha (skilled) · bg вещ (skilled) · de zuständig (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · nl competent (skilled) · nl bevoegd (skilled) · hy ձեռնհաս (skilled) · bg способен (skilled) · cmn 有能力的 (skilled) · hy կոմպետենտ (skilled) · mi matatau (skilled) · hu illetékes (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · cmn 技艺娴熟的 (skilled) · bg мерода́вен (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · hy իրազեկ (skilled) · fi pätevä (skilled) · gd comasach (skilled) · fi käyttökelpoinen (adequate for a purpose) · bg компетентен (skilled) · uk компете́нтний (skilled) · hi निपुण (skilled) · fr compétent (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · ru компете́нтный (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · nl bekwaam (skilled) · hy կարող (skilled) · nl capabel (skilled) · fi taitava (skilled) · gl competente (skilled) · cmn 有法定权力的 (law: having jurisdiction or authority) · mi toa (skilled) · cmn 得力 (skilled) · de kompetent (skilled) · hi पारंगत (skilled)