aptitude
Americannoun
-
capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; talent.
She has a special aptitude for mathematics.
- Synonyms:
- bent, propensity, proclivity, predisposition, faculty, gift
-
readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence.
He was placed in honors classes because of his general aptitude.
- Synonyms:
- acumen
-
the state or quality of being apt; special fitness.
noun
-
inherent or acquired ability
-
ease in learning or understanding; intelligence
-
the condition or quality of being apt
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of aptitude
First recorded in 1400–50; from Late Latin aptitūdō; see origin at apt, -i-, -tude
Explanation
An aptitude is something you're good at. A rock star might have an aptitude for energizing an audience, or for trashing his hotel room. When you have a talent or do something well, people say that you have an aptitude for it. But you don't have to be born with an aptitude; you can also acquire your abilities. You are probably already well acquainted with this word, since the zillions of standardized tests you have taken in school are usually called aptitude tests.
Vocabulary lists containing aptitude
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Giver
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The spirit doesn’t join you unless you’ve shown you’ve got an aptitude or a willingness to work with it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Lodge is being a bit modest when he plays down his family’s business aptitude.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
Maybe you thought you’d excel at one aspect of the job, but it turns out you have an aptitude for something completely different.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026
After her divorce, she went to Indiana University Southeast to sit for an aptitude test.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
For the second time she reminded Cora of the lessons in reading and writing, which were optional but recommended, in keeping with their mission of colored uplift, especially for those with aptitude.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
The process would create a database of military-age Germans that details their physical and mental health, their skills and aptitudes, and their willingness to serve.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025
Children can start learning at these levels at different ages, decided by the school depending on "individual needs and aptitudes".
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2023
The paper's authors add that the results could potentially help better illuminate the learning process, identify the causes behind certain afflictions, and spot sound-related aptitudes.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2023
Fox could argue, plausibly if uncomfortably, that some of its performers are entertainers lacking aptitudes, motives or incentives for making journalistic judgments about meretricious statements uttered on their programs.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 11, 2023
Lori, because of her good grades and art portfolio, had been accepted into a government-sponsored summer camp for students with special aptitudes.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
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.
