fluent

[floo-uhnt]

adjective

1. spoken or written with ease.

   fluent French.

2. able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily.

   a fluent speaker;

   fluent in six languages.

3. easy; graceful.

   fluent motion;

   fluent curves.

4. flowing, as a stream.

5. capable of flowing; fluid, as liquids or gases.

6. easily changed or adapted; pliant.

fluent

/ ˈfluːənt /

adjective

1. able to speak or write a specified foreign language with facility

2. spoken or written with facility

   his French is fluent

3. easy and graceful in motion or shape

4. flowing or able to flow freely

Other Word Forms

• fluency noun
• fluentness noun
• fluently adverb
• nonfluency noun
• nonfluent adjective
• nonfluentness noun
• overfluency noun
• overfluent adjective
• overfluentness noun
• transfluent adjective
• unfluent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluent¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin fluent- (stem of fluēns ) “flowing,” present participle of fluere; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluent¹

C16: from Latin: flowing, from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

Fluent, glib, voluble may refer to a flow of words. Fluent suggests the easy and ready flow of an accomplished speaker and is usually a term of commendation: a fluent and interesting speech. Glib implies an excessive fluency divorced from sincerity or profundity; it often suggests talking smoothly and hurriedly to cover up or deceive, not giving the hearer a chance to stop and think; it may also imply a plausible, prepared, and well-rehearsed lie: He had a glib answer for everything. Voluble implies the overcopious and often rapid flow of words characteristic of a person who loves to talk: She overwhelmed him with her voluble answer. See also eloquent.

Example Sentences

She was nervous — she clarifies she’s “not fluent” — but it was a choice that paid off, and the moment made it in the final cut.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another thing about Autumn: She’s fluent in both sign language and body language.

Read more on Literature

It seemed she had been warned that Penelope was not fluent.

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Naturally, they all spoke fluent Hungarian, so Cecily’s services were not required and she had the afternoon free.

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Every few years, Democrats try to convince themselves they’ve found the one – a candidate who can finally speak fluent rural, who looks and sounds like the voters they’ve lost.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• eloquent 
• persuasive 
• talkative 
• vocal