aptitude

[ ap-ti-tood, -tyood ]

/ ˈæp tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

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See synonyms for: aptitude / aptitudes on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR aptitude

1 gift, faculty; predisposition, proclivity, propensity, bent.

2 acumen.

3 appropriateness.

See synonyms for aptitude on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of aptitude

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

OTHER WORDS FROM aptitude

ap·ti·tu·di·nal

[ap-ti-tood-n-l, -tyood-], /ˌæp tɪˈtud n l, -ˈtyud-/, adjectiveap·ti·tu·di·nal·ly, adverbpre·ap·ti·tude, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aptitude

altitude, attitude, aptitude

Words nearby aptitude

apterium, apterous, apterygial, apterygote, apteryx, aptitude, aptitude test, aptly, aptonym, Apuleius, Apulia

How to use aptitude in a sentence

His uniquely broad aptitude allows him not only to overpower smaller defenders who switch, but also to prey on an opponent who’s been pressed into an uncomfortable rotation.
The Heat Took A Page From The Lakers’ Playbook|Michael Pina|October 6, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
As discussed, having the right technology is important, but it is only as effective as having employees with the aptitude to use it efficiently and effectively.
Four must-haves for business resilience in a time of crisis|Jason Sparapani|September 23, 2020|MIT Technology Review
It’s best when it is individualized, with progress based on a student’s personal aptitude and proficiency as they move toward mastering the material.
Why hasn’t digital learning lived up to its promise?|Walter Thompson|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
If you sit down with pencil, paper, and enough of an aptitude for orbital dynamics you’ll soon discover that the easiest, most efficient trajectories to take us from Earth to a place like Mars involve great elliptical arcs around the sun.
Take Our Virtual Trip to Mars - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Caleb Scharf|September 2, 2020|Nautilus

An aptitude for mentally stringing together related items, often cited as a hallmark of human language, may have deep roots in primate evolution, a new study suggests.
Monkeys may share a key grammar-related skill with humans|Bruce Bower|June 26, 2020|Science News
Sure, they correlate with wealth, he opines, but perhaps aptitude does, as well.
The Elite American College Pile-On|Michael S. Roth|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not quite saying what academic aptitude is, he is sure Harvard should emphasize it to create a “true meritocracy.”
The Elite American College Pile-On|Michael S. Roth|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If we just focused on academic aptitude, he suggests, the professors would be well-served.
The Elite American College Pile-On|Michael S. Roth|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Worry about academic aptitude, he suggests, and the soul will take care of itself.
The Elite American College Pile-On|Michael S. Roth|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nonetheless, that “inward sweetness” awakened the future preacher to a rather uncommon youthful aptitude for holiness.
The Hellish Sermons of Jonathan Edwards, Malign Evangelist|Matthew Paul Turner|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whether this aptitude was combined with the sinuous cunning that is essentially Oriental Nigel did not know.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
She was fascinated by this aptitude, but presently she was still more fascinated by the subtle use that he was making of it.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Sarah was intelligent and well trained; she inherited all her mother's aptitude for rule and order.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
I know of no other private enterprise that so truly represents the skill, aptitude, and energy of American genius.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
But, on the other hand, it demands aptitude in writing for the orchestra and appropriately solid material.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks

British Dictionary definitions 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

OTHER WORDS FOR aptitude

Origin of aptitude

OTHER WORDS FROM aptitude

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aptitude

Words nearby aptitude

Words related to aptitude

How to use aptitude in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aptitude

Word Origin for aptitude