know-how

[noh-hou]

noun

1. knowledge of how to do something; faculty or skill for a particular activity; expertise.

   Designing a computer requires a lot of know-how.

know-how

noun

1. ingenuity, aptitude, or skill; knack

2. commercial and saleable knowledge of how to do a particular thing; experience

Word History and Origins

Origin of know-how¹

1830–40, noun use of verb phrase know how

Example Sentences

Musk says Tesla’s edge is that it has the engineering capability to build limbs, AI to run the brains, and the manufacturing know-how to mass-produce the bots.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The engineers’ job was to come up with the theories and formulas that advanced the nation’s aviation know-how; the computers performed and checked calculations to ensure that the engineers’ ideas worked.

Read more on Literature

Businesses eager to showcase their commitment to DEI advertised their willingness to consider applicants with the right know-how, if not the typical résumés.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

China has a history of letting the U.S. take the lead in frontier technologies, only to catch up later as know-how spreads.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Integrating best practices, knowledge, know-how…and using that to create incremental value for our stakeholders.”

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• ability 
• aptitude 
• background 
• capability 
• expertise 
• ingenuity 
• knowledge 
• proficiency 
• wisdom