competent

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈkɒmpətənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #11282

Meanings

1

adj
Having enough skill, knowledge, or ability to do something well.

He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
2

adj
Good enough for the purpose, though not outstanding.

She gave a competent performance, but nothing memorable.
3

adj
Having the legal authority to deal with a particular matter.

The dispute will be settled by a competent court.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · good enough for the... acceptable adequate

Opposites

incompetent

Word family

Derived forms angiocompetentchemocompetentcompetentlydyscompetentelectrocompetentfibrocompetenthypercompetentimmunocompetentincompetentmelanocompetentmulticompetentneurocompetent

Related forms bicompetentcompete competence competentness competitiontricompetent

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

competent testimony
a witness's account that meets the legal requirements for use as evidence

Adjective + noun

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”).

*peth₂- Proto-Indo-European competent Middle English competens Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# competent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɒmpətənt/
**Frequency rank:** 11282

## Meanings
1. Having enough skill, knowledge, or ability to do something well.
2. Good enough for the purpose, though not outstanding.
3. Having the legal authority to deal with a particular matter.

## Examples
- He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
- She gave a competent performance, but nothing memorable.
- The dispute will be settled by a competent court.

## Antonyms
- incompetent

## Derived Forms
- angiocompetent
- chemocompetent
- competently
- dyscompetent
- electrocompetent
- fibrocompetent
- hypercompetent
- immunocompetent
- incompetent
- melanocompetent
- multicompetent
- neurocompetent

## Related Forms
- bicompetent
- compete
- competence
- competentness
- competition
- tricompetent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *peth₂-
- Root: competent
- Root: competens

## 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”).

## AI Etymology
competent is an adjective. It is 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”). Historical forms in the chain include *peth₂- (Proto-Indo-European), competent (Middle English), competent (Old French), and competens (Latin). Current senses include having enough skill, knowledge, or ability to do something well, good enough for the purpose, though not outstanding, and having the legal authority to deal with a particular matter. Derived forms include angiocompetent, chemocompetent, competently, dyscompetent, and electrocompetent. Related words include bicompetent, compete, competence, and competentness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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