aptitude
[ ap-ti-tood, -tyood ]
/ ˈæp tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /
noun
capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; talent: She has a special aptitude for mathematics.
readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence: He was placed in honors classes because of his general aptitude.
the state or quality of being apt; special fitness.
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RELATED WORDS
predilection, propensity, proficiency, savvy, knack, competence, flair, bent, drift, disposition, leaning, tendency, proclivity, talent, ability, gift, intelligence, capability, stuff, smarts
Nearby words
- apterium,
- apterous,
- apterygial,
- apterygote,
- apteryx,
- aptitude test,
- aptness,
- aptyalia,
- apud cell,
- apuleius
Origin of aptitude
SYNONYMS FOR aptitude
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for aptitude
aptitude
/ (ˈæptɪˌtjuːd) /
noun
inherent or acquired ability
ease in learning or understanding; intelligence
the condition or quality of being apt
Word Origin for aptitude
C15: via Old French from Late Latin aptitūdō, from Latin aptus apt
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
aptitude
early 15c., "tendency, likelihood," from Middle French aptitude (14c.) or directly from Late Latin aptitudo (genitive aptitudinis) "fitness," noun of quality from Latin aptus "joined, fitted" (see apt). Meaning "natural capacity to learn" is 1540s; that of "quality of being fit (for a purpose or position)" is from 1640s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper