competence
Americannoun
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the quality of being competent; adequacy; possession of required skill, knowledge, qualification, or capacity.
He hired her because of her competence as an accountant.
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an income sufficient to furnish the necessities and modest comforts of life.
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sufficiency; a sufficient quantity.
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Law. (of a witness, a party to a contract, etc.) legal capacity or qualification based on the meeting of certain minimum requirements of age, soundness of mind, citizenship, or the like.
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Embryology. the sum total of possible developmental responses of any group of blastemic cells under varied external conditions.
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Linguistics. the implicit, internalized knowledge of a language that a speaker possesses and that enables the speaker to produce and understand the language.
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Immunology. immunocompetence.
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Geology. the ability of a fluid medium, as a stream or the wind, to move and carry particulate matter, measured by the size or weight of the largest particle that can be transported.
noun
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the condition of being capable; ability
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a sufficient income to live on
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the state of being legally competent or qualified
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embryol the ability of embryonic tissues to react to external conditions in a way that influences subsequent development
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linguistics (in transformational grammar) the form of the human language faculty, independent of its psychological embodiment in actual human beings Compare performance langue parole
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The ability of bacteria to be undergo genetic transformation.
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The ability to respond immunologically to an antigen, as in an immune cell responding to a virus.
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The ability to function normally because of structural integrity, as in a heart valve.
Etymology
Origin of competence
First recorded in 1585–95; compet(ent) + -ence
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.
The Gulf states have capital and energy but lack elite AI competence.
Judge Gregory Katsas made a strong argument in dissent that the ordinary meaning of “for cause” when the law was passed was simply “relating to the conduct, ability, fitness, or competence of the officer.”
He also said there had been "inadequate detailed pro-active discussions" around their levels of experience and competence before heading on to the ridge.
From BBC
He also called it one of the “most stunning American displays of might and competence” in history.
From Salon
A college degree used to be a certificate of competence.
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.
