aptitude

[ap-ti-tood, -tyood]

noun

1. capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; talent.

   She has a special aptitude for mathematics.

   Synonyms: bent, propensity, proclivity, predisposition, faculty, gift

2. readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence.

   He was placed in honors classes because of his general aptitude.

   Synonyms: acumen

3. the state or quality of being apt; special fitness.

aptitude

/ ˈæptɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. inherent or acquired ability

2. ease in learning or understanding; intelligence

3. the condition or quality of being apt

Other Word Forms

• aptitudinal adjective
• aptitudinally adverb
• preaptitude noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aptitude¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Late Latin aptitūdō; apt, -i-, -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of aptitude¹

C15: via Old French from Late Latin aptitūdō, from Latin aptus _apt

Example Sentences

Throughout his 20s he worked in jazz clubs, eventually opening a Tokyo bar and coffee shop despite lacking “the slightest aptitude for running a business.”

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The continent’s economic power, Germany, is building a database of young people, cataloging their fitness and aptitude to help it pick whom to draft should the country be attacked.

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He resigned as president after a faculty no-confidence vote following his delivery of a speech suggesting the paucity of women in science and engineering might be connected to differences in their aptitude for the subjects.

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In 2005, as president, Summers delivered a speech suggesting the paucity of women in science and engineering might be connected to a difference in the distribution of aptitude.

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The old have a clearer view of the inevitability of destruction and a willingness—though no real aptitude—to contemplate what might succeed it.

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Related Words

• competence 
• flair 
• knack 
• proficiency 
• savvy