proficient
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- overproficient adjective
- proficiency noun
- proficiently adverb
- proficientness noun
- underproficient adjective
Etymology
Origin of proficient
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Film critic Elaine Mancini once described Duvall as "the most technically proficient, the most versatile, and the most convincing actor on the screen in the United States."
From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026
She said she went out on her e-bike to "become more proficient".
From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026
He’s equally proficient on clarinet, providing intermittent solos of captivating beauty.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
Law-enforcement officers at the same time have been taking commercial drivers off the road who are deemed not to be proficient in English.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
As she became more proficient in the work, so she became better at taking orders and following procedures and ceasing to think for herself.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
