expertise
1 Americanverb (used with or without object)
noun
Etymology
Origin of expertise
First recorded in 1865–70; from French: “survey, report (made by experts),” with -ise understood as an abstract noun suffix; see expert, -ise 2
Explanation
When you're an expert at something, you show expertise — or an exceptional knowledge of the subject. "He had expertise in accounting, having excelled in math, but he had even more expertise in dancing, his hobby since a small child." Expertise has obvious roots in the word expert. Just about any interest or field has a place for experts. Just as one individual has expertise in world religions, another may have expertise in computer gaming. Working hard or immersing yourself in a specialty leads to expertise, and it comes through both study and hands-on experience.
Vocabulary lists containing expertise
Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 41-50
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"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Eight
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English Words Derived from French, List 4
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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.
He went on to take part in a number of major exercises, developing an expertise in operating in extreme Arctic conditions.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Self-funded wealthy candidates have been a part of American politics for decades, said Robin Kolodny, a Temple University professor of political science with an expertise in campaign finance.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
By combining targeted border screening, world-class medical expertise and proven outbreak control measures, the U.S. is again demonstrating our leadership role in global health security.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
In layman’s terms, that means lowering the cost of space access, bypassing the power bottlenecks holding back AI development, and using its satellite expertise to manage the entire project.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
But Dasch could get away with it because Kappe had confidence in Dasch's knowledge and expertise of America, which was an invaluable asset to the mission.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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.
