competency
Americannoun
-
competencies
plural
noun
-
law capacity to testify in a court of law; eligibility to be sworn
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a less common word for competence competence
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of competency
First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French, from Medieval Latin competentia “expertise, suitability,” in Latin: “agreement, proportion, symmetry,” equivalent to competent + -cy
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How does competency compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you have competency in something, you're well-qualified to do it, whether that's baseball, business management, or underwater basket weaving. Competency means "capability." Although we use it to mean someone has a sufficient qualification, it comes from the word compete, meaning that someone with competency is good enough to compete with other candidates. If you pass the medical board exams, then you have medical competency. Most jobs require that you show competency, either through certification, or on-the-job performance. If you keep faking injuries to get out of saving people, someone will eventually question your competency as a lifeguard.
Vocabulary lists containing competency
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 9
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"Building Design and Construction Handbook," Vocabulary from Section 1
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"CLEP Principles of Management," Vocabulary from Chapter 7
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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.
See Examples For:
Navy’s core blockade competency is something the Chinese Communist Party has to price into its actions, given Beijing’s reliance on imports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
I suppose the only thing that would keep Tennessee from trying again is that there is a competency requirement for execution.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026
Employees should have an open and clear line of communication about what actions will improve workflow and productivity, without making any assumption about perception of competency.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
In order to help children build water competency, Jones believes swimming lessons need to be universal, engaging and accessible.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
His status made him exempt from the state-mandated competency tests that were a requirement for a high school diploma, and he had never taken college boards.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Keira's assessment in 2024, carried out when she was pregnant, concluded that she did not have "sufficient parental competencies to care for the newborn independently".
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
Novo Nordisk had wanted to freshen up the board by adding select, new competencies while also maintaining continuity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025
Lund said that the board had proposed bringing in several new board members to add new competencies, while the majority shareholder, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, "wanted a more extensive reconfiguration".
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2025
I feel like General Zod from Superman, floating off into space trapped inside a two-dimensional phantom zone, screaming in silence about my job qualifications and core competencies.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2025
These all require new competencies that reflect this adaptability.
From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
