competent
Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
Adjective 4 meanings
Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
“He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.”
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.”
Adequate for the purpose.
Functionally in order; functioning adequately.
“a competent sphincter; a competent cervix; a competent immune system”
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”).
Similar and opposite words
COMPETENT at a glance
COMPETENT has 9 letters and scores 15 points in Scrabble (C 3 + O 1 + M 3 + P 3 + E 1 + T 1 + E 1 + N 1 + T 1) and 19 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #7,896 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with competent
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