competency
Americannoun
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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
Compare meaning
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:
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
Jennifer Mulhern, the College Board’s vice president for AP program access, said the new course is meant to better prepare high-schoolers for college business courses while also helping boost their personal-finance competency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 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
The core competency there is speed and accuracy,” explained Glocer.
From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman
Identify a maximum of three “differentiating competencies in your business,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
"We believe it is time to bring in new competencies and perspectives to the Board to support Mike Doustdar and his leadership team in executing on the company’s strategy," he said in a statement.
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
Any student who failed their final placement had the opportunity to repeat it and achieve the competencies they had not achieved in a four week retrieval, the inquiry heard.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2024
The Judges had constantly refused to give an opinion on any of the powers, privileges, or competencies of either House.
From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 11 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
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.
