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
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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:
The suspect, Aaron Farinacci, 37, has not yet entered a plea, and a judge has ordered him to undergo a mental competency evaluation.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
He is cunning, not intelligent — something he unwittingly proves every time he claims that passing a basic mental competency test shows his brilliance.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
“It builds on our core quarrying competency, expands our geographic footprint and immediately establishes Martin Marietta as the leading national producer of lime solutions,” he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
“Nothing about the court’s finding regarding competency diminishes the seriousness of the loss or the pain experienced by those who knew and loved Mr. Handy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
Meanwhile, the judge sent George to Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa for a competency examination.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Early relationships teach us basic social competencies: how to express emotions, cooperate and forgive, and how and when to compete—all skills we use at work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026
Keira's assessment in 2024, carried out when she was pregnant, concluded that she did not have "sufficient parental competencies to care for the newborn independently".
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
"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
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.
