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Synonyms

competency

American  
[kom-pi-tuhn-see] / ˈkɒm pɪ tən si /

noun

plural

competencies
  1. competence.


competency British  
/ ˈkɒmpɪtənsɪ /

noun

  1. law capacity to testify in a court of law; eligibility to be sworn

  2. a less common word for competence competence

"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

Other Word Forms

  • noncompetency noun

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

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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.

Lemon attempted to critique Haley’s statements that political leaders over the age of 75 should undergo competency testing.

From Los Angeles Times

An endless buffet of Internet content is available to help anyone of any age develop the same competency and desire.

From Salon

"Instead of dismantling everything, we can actually reuse the facilities, the skills, the competencies we have."

From BBC

Businesses often try to parlay their core competencies into new product lines and markets, said Tsay.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many truckers quit the industry after the introduction of enhanced English proficiency tests, where highway inspectors check for language proficiency and highway traffic sign competency.

From Los Angeles Times